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Men's College Basketball
Preview
Jacksonville at Virginia Tech
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Where: Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, Virginia

Coming off their first loss of the season, Virginia Tech returns home to Blacksburg, Va., to play Jacksonville Wednesday night in the first meeting between the two schools since 1986.

The Hokies (3-1) are undefeated at home after topping Delaware State, South Carolina Upstate and Winthrop over an eight-day span earlier this month. However, Virginia Tech will be in rebound mode after their lopsided setback to Penn State in Baltimore on Friday.

Head coach Mike Young's team, picked to finish 14th in the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason poll, committed 24 turnovers during an 86-64 neutral-site loss at the Hall of Fame Series. Virginia Tech never led as the experienced Nittany Lions raced out to a 15-2 lead and didn't look back.

The 24 turnovers represented Virginia Tech's highest total since the Hokies had 25 against West Virginia in 2014.

"I'm not sure I've had 24 turnovers in my career, but we did tonight," Young said. "We will get back home and we'll look at it and get better. We'll grow from obviously a tough night."

Mylyjael Poteat scored 15 points for the Hokies, who went 5-of-18 shooting from 3-point range. VCU transfer Tobi Lawal (nine rebounds) also made it four straight games with at least eight boards.

Jacksonville (2-2) evened its overall record with a 71-62 home win over South Carolina State last Thursday. Unlike Virginia Tech, the Dolphins overcame 24 turnovers thanks to a 12-4 run over the final 3:18.

Atlantic Sun Conference Preseason Player of the Year Robert McCray V had nine points, nine assists, six rebounds, two steals and two of Jacksonville's eight blocks. Zach Bell contributed 18 points and eight rebounds.

Chris Arias, a 6-foot-6 freshman from nearby Providence School in Jacksonville, sizzled with a career-high 19 points and five 3-pointers in 24 minutes off the bench.

"(Arias) has an unbelievable ability to help us in so many ways," Dolphins head coach Jordan Mincy said. "I am just so proud of him and the effort he gave."

--Field Level Media

Stats and Records
Team Comparison
  W/L Strk Home Away Neutral Day Night Conf
Jacksonville 2-2 W1 2-0 0-2 0-0 0-0 2-2 0-0
Virginia Tech 3-1 L1 3-0 0-0 0-1 0-0 3-1 0-0
Last Meeting
Jacksonville Virginia Tech
Date Away Home Pts Reb FG% Pts Reb FG%
No previous meeting.
Player Stats
Previous Matchup
Points Player Total FG% FTM
Jacksonville N/A
Virginia Tech N/A
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
Jacksonville N/A
Virginia Tech N/A
Assists Player  
Jacksonville N/A
Virginia Tech N/A
Season
Points Player Total FG% FTM
Jacksonville R. McCray 64 44.2 12
Virginia Tech M. Poteat 53 53.3 21
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
Jacksonville S. Payne III 32 16 16
Virginia Tech T. Lawal 35 15 20
Assists Player  
Jacksonville S. Wheeler 22
Virginia Tech B. Rechsteiner 14
Quickchart Matchup
blue bar Jacksonville Off vs  red bar Virginia Tech Defense
blue bar 66.7 Points For
red bar 68.0 Points Against
blue bar 40.5 FG%
red bar 42.9 FG%
blue bar 36.7 Reb
red bar 25.3 Reb
red bar Virginia Tech Off vs  blue bar Jacksonville Defense
red bar 74.5 Points For
blue bar 73.7 Points Against
red bar 43.8 FG%
blue bar 45.3 FG%
red bar 34.0 Reb
blue bar 31.0 Reb