VMI @ Virginia Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 5, 2018 ) VMI 68, Virginia Tech 89

Virginia Tech snapped a three-game losing streak on Dec. 11 - but just barely - in a win over Chattanooga. The Hokies put it in another gear four days later against Gardner-Webb and look to continue the progress with a third straight win when Virginia Military Institute visits on Saturday.

The Hokies survived the Mocs 63-58 but didn't waste any time against Gardner-Webb, cruising to a 73-46 victory behind 13 3-pointers as well as 18 points and five triples from freshman standout Landers Nolley II on Sunday. “We knew we couldn’t come out with the same energy as (we did in the game against) Chattanooga,” said Virginia Tech sophomore reserve Isaiah Wilkins, who had 13 points and two 3-pointers. The 3-pointers were more than the team had drained in the two previous games combined (11). VMI has five wins on the season but three have come against non-Division I teams, including a 78-60 win over Division III Ferrum on Dec. 11.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ACC Network

ABOUT VMI (5-7): Travis Evee scored 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including three 3-pointers, while fellow 6-0 freshman guard Kamdyn Curfman added 16 points, three 3-pointers and five rebounds. Curfman (12.1 points, 38 3-pointers, 41.3 3-point percentage) and Evee (11.3 points, 28 3-pointers, 41.8 percent) are the only double-digit scorers for a team that lost over 70 percent of its minutes from last season's 11-21 squad. Senior guard Garrett Gilkeson (9.5 points) leads the team in rebounds (5.3), assists (3.3) and steals (1.8).

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (8-3): Tyrece Radford (7.5 rebounds, 5.8 rebounds), a 6-foot-1 redshirt freshman, had 10 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double against Gardner-Webb, while freshman Hunter Cattoor (6.9 points) chipped in 11 points and two 3-pointers off the bench. The Hokies shoot 40 percent from the arc and have a turnover percentage of 15.5 - 11th in the nation - contributing to the 37th-most efficient offense in the country and fifth in the ACC at 108.2 points per 100 possessions. Nolley (18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 46 3-point percentage) is one four regular Hokies who shoot at least 40 percent from long-range - a group that includes PJ Horne (46), Cattoor (42) and Nahiem Alleyne (42).

TIP-INS

1. Virginia Tech leads the all-time series 92-43 and has won seven straight, including 89-68 last year.

2. Nolley earned his third ACC Freshman of the Week this past Monday, marking the first time a Hokie has done so since Virginia Tech joined the league in 2004-05.

3. There are only three teams in the nation that have two freshmen with at least 20 3-pointers this season, and the Hokies and Keydets each have a pair. Nolley and Alleyne represent Virginia Tech while Curfman and Evee rep VMI.

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 79, VMI 61