It's never easy to win conference basketball games on the road. Factor in a rivalry game where one team has dominated on their home floor and it makes it extra difficult. That was the case for the Virginia Tech men on Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville.
Virginia has been very good inside John Paul Jones Arena in their Commonwealth Clash matchups with the Hokies, but this year felt different. The Cavaliers are down and entered the game at 3-7 in ACC play, one game behind Mike Young's team. For most of the game, the Hokies led and kept withstanding runs from hosts, and in the end, they held on for a 75-74 win. Here are two truths and a lie after Tech improved to 5-6 in ACC play.
Truth: Virginia Tech survived
For the entire game, the Hokies did a good job of answering each run by the Cavaliers, but they had to withstand a runner at the buzzer to escape with a one-point win. Escape is what it was Virginia Tech didn't do itself any favors down the stretch.
After going 13-for-15 from the foul line, when the Hokies needed to make a free throw, they couldn't. In fact, they finished 1-for-8 from the line late in the game and each miss left the door open for a Virginia miracle comeback. As it turns out, Young's team survived the free throw struggles to pick up a huge road win for a number of reasons.
Truth: Jaden Schutt & Tobi Lawal were great offensively
There were a number of reasons for the win, but on the offensive end, Duke transfer Jaden Schutt and VCU transfer Tobi Lawal carried Virginia Tech. Freshman point guard Ben Hammond made some big shots, including a floater, but it was Schutt and Lawal who seemed to have every answer against Virginia.
Schutt dropped in 18 points, including going, 4-for-8, from behind the arc, and with every shot he took, he did so with confidence. That was the player Young and his staff were hoping that they were getting. Lawal proved to be too much on the inside for the Cavaliers with 17 points. When the Hokies needed some late baskets inside, Lawl delivered.
Lie: There was no juice because of the team's records
For the first time since 1970, both teams entered the matchup with losing records. As stunning as it is, it didn't affect the hype around the game and the crowd was into it. Both teams left everything on the floor and if Virginia Tech had blown the game, it would have felt like a huge gut-punch.
The Hokies will go for the season sweep in two weeks in Blacksburg and regardless of the results of Virginia Tech's game leading into that matchup, Cassell Coliseum will be rocking. In terms of the standings, with the win over Tech is two games ahead of their in-state rivals in early February. Raise your hand if you thought that was possible at the beginning of the season. I didn't think so.