Hokies set to wrap up non-conference action against Grambling State on Saturday

BLACKSBURG – Before Virginia Tech jumps into convention play for the rest of the common season, the Hokies welcome a formidable foe in Grambling State into Cassell Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. Dean Linke and Mike Gminski can be on the decision for RSN for the 4 p.m. tipoff, whereas Evan Hughes and Mike Burnop present protection for the Virginia Tech Sports Network.

Saturday’s contest will mark Virginia Tech’s final sport in Cassell through the 2022 calendar yr. The matchup will function Hokie Kids’ Club Day, The Kids’ Takeover Day and a school/workers appreciation sport. Also, gamers can be accessible for postgame autographs. More particulars on all promotions will be discovered here. Tickets, beginning as little as $10, can nonetheless be discovered here.

 

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SCOUTING THE TIGERS

• Grambling State enters this matchup coming off its second Power-5 win of the season against Vanderbilt. Earlier within the yr, the Tigers downed Colorado. This is the primary time in program historical past that Grambling State has downed two Power-5 opponents in the identical season.
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• The Tigers are led on the court docket by Carte’are Gordon, a redshirt junior ahead from St. Louis, Mo. In eight begins this season, he is averaging 13.8 factors and eight boards.
• Grambling State prospers on the defensive finish. Overall, the Tigers’ scoring protection (62.2) ranks forty second within the nation. They fall within the prime 30 in each field-goal protection (thirteenth) and 3-point protection (twenty seventh).

The Series

• Virginia Tech defeated Grambling State, 87-52, within the lone different assembly between the 2 packages on Dec. 19, 2015 in Blacksburg. 
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• Justin Bibbs dropped in 31 factors on 10 of 14 capturing to lead 4 Hokies in double-figure scoring. 
• Tech pressured Grambling into 24 turnovers that sport, which led to a 24-12 benefit in factors off turnovers. 
• The Hokies is not going to be overlooking the Tigers, who’ve knocked off two Power Five groups on the season: Colorado and Vanderbilt. 
• The Hokies can be in search of their first 11-1 begin to a season since 2018-19. That yr, Tech opened with a 14-1 ledger by its first 15 video games. 

BACK IN THE TOP 25

• On the energy of its five-game successful streak, Tech returned to the AP Top 25 on Monday. 
• It’s the Hokies’ 86th look all-time within the AP Poll. 
• Tech was final within the AP Poll at No. 25 within the last 2021 ballot. 
• The Hokies are 4-0 all-time because the Twenty fourth-ranked crew. 
• Tech is considered one of 4 ACC groups ranked this week. 

MVP IN BROOKLYN

• Sean Pedulla was named MVP of the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational sport between Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State. 
• The sophomore level guard, who hails from Edmond, Oklahoma, tallied 16 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists against the Cowboys. 
• He has reached double-figure scoring in every of his first 11 video games of the season. Pedulla is the primary Hokie to try this since Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored double figures in his first 13 video games of the 2018-19 season. 

UP NEXT

• Virginia Tech will dive again into ACC competitors at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21 against Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass.