Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 13, 2019 ) Georgia Tech 68, Virginia Tech 76

Virginia Tech travels to Georgia Tech on Tuesday as both programs seek to break through the logjam of teams sitting just below .500 in ACC play. The Hokies dropped into a five-way tie for sixth in the league standings and their losing streak stretched to three games with Saturday’s 74-63 home loss to Florida State, while Georgia Tech - which is still without leading scorer Michael Devoe - trails that group by one game following an 80-72 defeat Saturday at Notre Dame.

Devoe averages 16.2 points and shoots 40.7 percent from 3-point range, accounting for 23.8 percent of Georgia Tech’s offense, but the sophomore guard has missed the past three games with a left foot injury and is questionable for Tuesday. “Not having Mike Devoe hurts us because it takes away a shooter,” Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner told reporters after the Yellow Jackets finished 4-for-18 from 3-point range Saturday. The Hokies have struggled defending the 3-point shot during their losing streak, as opponents have hit 42.1 percent of their long-range attempts. “You’ve got to find ways to win,” Virginia Tech coach Mike Young told reporters after Florida State shot 10-for-22 from 3-point range Saturday. “We are in a bit of a hole here, but as I told them after the game, we control everything.”

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: ACC Network

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (14-8, 5-6 ACC): Redshirt freshman guard Tyrece Radford scored 18 points Saturday, and across his past two games has 42 on 18-for-23 shooting from the field. Redshirt freshman guard Landers Nolley II added 14 points against Florida State and leads the Hokies in scoring (17.5), shooting 36.1 percent from 3-point range. Virginia Tech is shooting 30.1 percent from 3-point range during its losing streak, and has been outrebounded in nine consecutive contests.

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (10-12, 4-7): Junior guard Jose Alvarado is trying to help compensate for Devoe’s absence, scoring 25 points on 10-for-19 shooting Saturday, and has scored 25-plus twice in the past three games. Senior center James Banks III posted his fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Notre Dame. Georgia Tech recorded season highs in offensive rebounds (20) and second-chance points (25) Saturday, but its four 3-pointers were a season low.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Georgia Tech junior F Moses Wright has scored 10-plus points in 11 of his past 13 games, finishing with 17 on Saturday.

2. Virginia Tech junior G Wabissa Bede averages 6.3 assists and leads the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.5.

3. The Hokies have won the past six meetings with the Yellow Jackets and are 10-2 in the past 12 matchups.

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 69, Georgia Tech 64