Game Preview: Virginia Tech (8-4) vs Mount St. Mary's (3-11)

Note: All students, staff, and faculty with a valid Hokie Passport will be admitted to the game free!

     After taking care of USC Upstate Thursday afternoon, the Hokies must deal with one more non-conference opponent before ACC play begins full-time next weekend.  Mount St. Mary’s (Emmitsburg, Maryland) comes to Cassell on Sunday afternoon, where they are 0-3 all-time.  The Mount has faced three major conference opponents this season, losing by 10 at Cincinnati, by 4 at Penn State, and most recently by 23 at Northwestern. 

Starting Lineups
Virginia Tech						Mount St. Mary’s
Pos.	Player	Ht.	Cl.	PPG	RPG	Player	Ht.	Cl.	PPG	RPG
G	Green	6’4”	So.	8.3	1.7	Trice	5’11”	Jr.	13.0	4.0
G	Delaney	6’3”	Sr.	19.7	3.3	Norfleet	6’2”	Fr.	10.1	2.8
G/F	Bell	6’7”	Sr.	6.7	6.3	Golladay	6’1”	Fr.	6.4	3.0
F	Allen	6’7”	Sr.	12.4	9.5	Atupem	6’7”	Sr.	11.1	4.9
F	Davila	6’8”	Jr.	6.9	5.3	Barber	6’8”	So.	9.7	4.1

Game notes:

• The Mount is led by freshman guard Julian Norfleet, who has been on fire of late, shooting 44% from three and 48% from the field over the last 5 games.
• However, as a team, the Mountaineers are only shooting 27.9% from three-point territory this season, 26.9% over their last 5.
• The Mountaineers have been outrebounded by an average of 9.4 boards per game over their last 5.
• Mount St. Mary’s led by 6 with 2:22 remaining  in the last meeting before Malcolm Delaney scored 13 points in 2 minutes to give Tech a 5 point victory.

    The Hokies are facing their second inferior non-conference opponent in an early afternoon game this week.  Despite stumbling through the first half against USC Upstate, the Hokies settled into their game and eventually took control.  This will be another test of the Hokies discipline to play to their strengths, in this case, controlling the game with their defense.  That also means not settling for jumpshots over The Mount’s small, three-guard lineup.  Unlike Upstate, the Mountaineers don’t shoot a lot of threes so Tech will have a better opportunity to work on their zone defense.   If Jeff Allen doesn’t have a double-double in this game, something went wrong.   Expect the Hokies to control the boards in another fairly low-scoring affair.

Prediction: Hokies 67 Mount St. Mary’s 52

Also see:

• The Key Play: Mount St. Mary's Preview