Collegiate Times

The Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball team won its first marquee game of the season Wednesday evening with a 69-65 victory over the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. 

“We got away from who we were for about seven or eight days of practice,” said Tech head coach Seth Greenberg.  “Who we are is—we’re just a bunch of dirt bags that have to dig in and defend and check people…and we got back to our identity.” 

Wednesday’s win was Tech’s first in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, and evens the Hokies’ record at 1-1 in the event and brings them to 4-2 on the season.  Tech’s victory helped ensure that the ACC remains undefeated in the event; the ACC took this year 8-3. 

“It was good to represent the league in a positive way,” Greenberg said.  “It was good to show a positive atmosphere in the Cassell.  I think that’s very, very important that people see us as a contributor to the conference—a team that has an ACC atmosphere.  Obviously this event is a very big event because it does create, at least, some type of public opinion on where the league stands.”    

The Hokies came out playing intense early, but that intensity didn’t bring with it sharp play.  The Hokies missed numerous shots from point-blank range among other things. 

“You know they say…stuff happens—maybe not stuff,” Greenberg said.  “It’s not like those guys are trying to miss those dunks…That happens.  You’ve got to just keep playing.”

Despite some sloppy play early, Freshman Lewis Witcher brought his A-game during the first half. 

“It was real exciting to come out (in my) first start of the year,” Witcher said.  “I’m just real glad (with) how well I played.  I just had to go out there and do what I had to do to help my team out today, ‘cause they needed me.” 

Witcher’s frontcourt mate, Coleman Collins, came off the bench in the first half to score on his first touch of the game.  
“When I put him in the game I ran a set right at him,” Greenberg said.  “He responded, he was aggressive.” 

The Hokies went on a 12-3 run to finish the first half, and scored ten consecutive points with the game tied at 18. 

“Tonight I thought we did some pretty good things early, but we did not finish the half well,” said Iowa coach Steve Alford.  “I think the finish to the half was a 12-3 run to finish the half that was the difference in the first half.” 

The two teams traded buckets for the better part of the second half, with the exception of a couple small Virginia Tech runs.  Senior guard Zabian Dowdell went on a 5-0 run of his own. 

“I knew I had to do something,” Dowdell said; the Hokie from Pahokee scored a team-high 18 points in 36 minutes.  “I think the team was getting kind of flat and I just wanted to make a couple of plays to get the guys spirit back in it (and) to get the crowd back in it.  Fortunately, it worked to our advantage.” 

Dowdell stepped up in the absence of freshman point guard Nigel Munson who saw only three second-half minutes. 

“A mistake a made (was that) I needed to get Nigel Munson into the game,” Greenberg said.  “I think he could’ve helped us kind of pad that thing over a little bit.” 

In an attempt to get back into the game late, the Hawkeyes began fouling the Hokies and were able to trim a lead that was once 16 points to four late in the game. 

“In the last four minutes…we weren’t as tough as we needed to be,” Greenberg said.  “And, fortunately, we made just enough free-throws to win the game.” 

The Hokies went 17-33 from the charity stripe during the game and 16-32 in the second half. 

“We(‘re) just going to keep on working at it,” Greenberg said.  “I think some it’s mental, some of it’s physical, and some of it’s getting the right guys to the line.  If you get Vassallo to the line all day you’re going to be a pretty good free-throw shooting team.” 

Despite the valiant effort on behalf of the Hawkeyes late in the second half, Iowa was hurt by a lackluster performance from freshman standout Tyler Smith. 

“Tyler didn’t have a very good practice yesterday—sometimes it’s not what others do to you, it’s kind of what you do to yourself,” Alford said.  “I think that’s a learning curve for him.  He’s very, very talented, but even the most talented have to practice extremely hard and have good practices, and when you don’t that’s your prep.”

The Hokies will look to continue their winning ways this Sunday when they take on the George Washington University Colonials in the BB&T Classic.  The game is set to tip-off at 4 p.m.  in the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.  Comcast Sports Net will televise the game.