Boston College @ Virginia Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 25, 2020 ) Virginia Tech 56, Boston College 61

Virginia Tech's NCAA Tournament resume has taken a mammoth hit with four consecutive losses, and it will try to stop the bleeding Saturday when it hosts Boston College in an ACC matchup. Beginning with a 61-56 loss to the Eagles on the road Jan. 25, the Hokies have averaged just 59.3 points during their ill-timed slide.

Virginia Tech scored only 18 in the first half at Georgia Tech on Tuesday before eventually falling 76-57 and sinking into a five-way tie for eighth place in the conference. "They were obviously more aggressive and connected than my team was throughout the game," coach Mike Young told reporters after his team tied a season low with four made 3-pointers. "That is discouraging but we'll be back. There will be better days for the Hokies." Boston College won at North Carolina for the first time in nearly 10 years before giving No. 7 Duke all it could handle in a 63-55 loss at home Tuesday night. Senior guard Derryck Thornton scored 21 points for the Eagles, who virtually mirrored the Hokies' effort the same night by making a season-low two 3-pointers.

TIME: Noon ET. TV: RSN

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (11-12, 5-7 ACC): The Eagles led Duke with under seven minutes remaining before a scoreless drought of over four minutes did them in. "We lost our poise there," coach Jim Christian told the media. "You can't lose poise when you're playing the No. 7-ranked team in the country. You can't lose poise for two minutes." Freshman guard Jay Heath chipped in 12 points and a season-high nine rebounds in the loss, and he ranks second on the team in scoring (12.4) to Thornton (13.1).

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (14-9, 5-7): Guard Landers Nolley II leads the Hokies in scoring with 17.2 points per contest, but he's averaging 13.3 on 35.5 percent shooting during the losing streak. Fellow freshman Tyrece Radford has picked up some of the slack and is averaging 17.3 points while making 22-of-31 shots over his last three games. Radford leads the Hokies in rebounding (6.3) while junior guard Wabissa Bede is third in the ACC with 6.1 assists per game.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Eagles sophomore F Jairus Hamilton scored a career-high 23 points in the first matchup.

2. Hokies freshman G Jalen Cone leads the ACC in 3-point percentage (52.4), but he is 1-of-6 from long range over the last three games.

3. Virginia Tech won five straight matchups prior to the setback at Chestnut Hill last month.

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 68, Boston College 66