Virginia Tech dropped its fifth consecutive contest in an 80-64 loss to Vanderbilt in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Wednesday night inside Cassell Coliseum.
The Hokies (3-5) surrendered a 29-14 run over a 10-minute span in the second half to the Commodores (8-1) and shot just 38% (23-of-60) from the field and 28% (8-of-29) from three throughout the game.
“We’ve got to make routine plays,” Tech sixth-year head coach Mike Young said. “You’ve got to get the ball in the basket. You can’t turn it over when there’s that tipping point in the second half. We saw it against South Carolina, we saw it against Michigan, we see it here tonight.
“Turnovers and bad shots as much as anything will lead to runouts from the opposing team, and Vanderbilt did it in here tonight.”
It’s the first time the Hokies have lost five straight games by double figures since Feb. 2003. Moreover, it’s the first time Tech’s dropped five straight non-conference contests since Jan. 1924 — pretty jarring to consider, and a stat that gives you a pulse of where this team is currently at.
To Young’s point, the Hokies also turned the ball over 15 times against Vanderbilt. To compare, Tech’s had fewer turnovers in only three games so far this year — against USC Upstate (seven), Winthrop (nine) and South Carolina (nine).
In every other outing this year, the Hokies have given the ball away 16 times or more. They also allowed the Commodores to score 28 points off of takeaways Wednesday night.
“The game flipped when our defense turned,” Vanderbilt first-year head coach Mark Byington said. “The steals that led to layups and dunks and stuff on the other end not just gave us momentum, gave us energy, but I think it took something out of them, just us turning our defense into points was big.”
It’s tied for the most points off turnovers Tech’s allowed this season, with only the 86-64 thumping at the hands of Penn State matching the mark. But the Hokies gave it away 24 times in Baltimore compared to 15 against Vanderbilt, which showcases the level at which the Commodores made Tech pay.
Crazy enough, though, Tech only trailed 39-34 entering the locker room despite the aforementioned struggles in the first half — the Hokies were just 31% (11-of-55) overall and 23% (3-of-13) from three.
The Hokies eyed a fast start out of the gates, and truthfully, they actually got just that.
Cutting the deficit down to 45-43 with 15:41 to play, Tech then sent Tyler Johnson to the free throw line to try and even it up. At that point, the Hokies were a perfect 9-of-9 from the charity stripe, and were playing with momentum as Johnson stepped to the line. He proceeded to miss both.
On the ensuing possession, Vanderbilt’s Jason Edwards drove right to the rack, laid it in for two and put the Commodores up 47-43. Tech’s Brandon Rechsteiner then proceeded to miss an open three, leading to a layup on the other end. It was now 49-43, and the Hokies needed a response.
That’s when Jaden Schutt missed a contested triple early in the shot clock. Edwards pulled down the board, and within six seconds, he cashed in a three of his own to put Vandy up 52-43.
Timeout, Virginia Tech. It was a 9-0 run for the Commodores — one that eventually ballooned into the back-breaking 29-14 binge.
Former Tech guard MJ Collins also made his presence felt in his return to Blacksburg donning the black and gold. The two-year Hokie racked up 15 points in 23 minutes of play, going on a personal 11-0 first-half run to set the tone early on.
“It meant a lot,” Collins said. “It was a focal point for our teammates. We talked about it, that this was personal for me and [fellow former Hokie Tyler Nickel] and they had our backs out there. So I’m always thankful for my teammates and my coaching staff for believing in us. I told them this was going to be a hard game to win on the road, because it’s hard to win in Cassell.
“Of course, I was on the other side of it, but it really meant a lot.”
Nickel, who started his career at North Carolina before spending his sophomore year at Tech, put up just six points in his return.
On the flip side, Schutt paced the Hokies with 15 points and five treys. Mylyjael Poteat (14) and Ben Burnham (10) each had double figures while Johnson added eight, Rechsteiner and Jaydon Young each put up five and Patrick Wessler scored four.
VCU transfer Tobi Lawal tallied just two points in a season-low 19 minutes on the floor, while freshman Ben Hammond posted just one.
Unfortunately for Tech, this was a type of game that resembles its season all too well. Now it’s back to the drawing board with No. 18 Pitt coming to town on Saturday afternoon.
“We’re going to figure it out,” Young said. “I really like this group. They work really hard. We’re going to figure it out. We’re going to figure it out. I believe in this team. I’ve got to do a better job with them.”
Box Score: Vanderbilt 80, Virginia Tech 64