Chattanooga @ Virginia Tech preview

Virginia Tech is on its longest losing streak in nearly four years, but the Hokies are still off to a good start to the season overall entering Wednesday’s home matchup with Chattanooga. Even though two setbacks in the Maui Invitational and an ACC loss to No. 5 Duke on Friday have the Hokies on a three-game losing streak for the first time since February 2016, Virginia Tech owns victories over Clemson and No. 15 Michigan State, and plays its next four games at home.

The Hokies pushed Duke before fading late in Friday’s 77-63 loss, leading by three points at halftime before shooting 40.9 percent from the field and 1-for-7 from 3-point range in the second half. “We’re in great shape. Five-point game with seven minutes to go,” Virginia Tech coach Mike Young told reporters afterward. “We didn’t respond very well from that point, (but) it could not have played out any better in terms of how we wanted to play.” Long-range shooting is critical for the Hokies, as four players with a minimum of 30 attempts from 3-point range are shooting 40 percent or better - led by junior forward P.J. Horne (51.5 percent) and redshirt freshman guard/forward Landers Nolley II (49.1). The Mocs have won three of their past four following back-to-back losses to Florida State and No. 17 Tennessee, beating Tennessee Wesleyan 99-51 on Sunday.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network

ABOUT CHATTANOOGA (6-4): Graduate transfer guard/forward Matt Ryan leads the Mocs in scoring at 15 points per game, and provides experience after playing 72 games at Notre Dame and 29 at Vanderbilt. Ryan scored 18 points for the third straight game on 6-for-8 shooting from the field against Tennessee Wesleyan. Junior guard David Jean-Baptiste averages 13.3 points, and junior forward Rod Johnson leads Chattanooga in rebounding (6.2).

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (6-3): The Hokies are connecting on 41.6 percent from 3-point range and 47.9 percent overall, ranking second in the ACC behind Louisville. Horne scored a season-high 15 points against Duke on 6-for-13 shooting from the field - 3-for-8 from 3-point range. Nolley leads the Hokies in scoring (18.6) and rebounding (5.4), while junior guard Wabissa Bede began Tuesday second in the ACC and tied for ninth nationally in assists per game at 7.0.

TIP-INS

1. Nolley struggled against Duke, scoring just seven points while committing nine turnovers.

2. Virginia Tech redshirt freshman G Tyrece Radford scored a career-high 12 points Friday, shooting 6-for-7 from the field and adding seven rebounds.

3. Bede scored a season-high 12 points against Duke and has reached double-figures scoring in three of his past four games.

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 83, Chattanooga 64