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#25 Miami Vs. Virginia Tech First Half Thread

By Mike McDaniel

Feb 25, 2017; Chestnut Hill, MA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Ahmed Hill (13) dunks the ball during the second half against the Boston College Eagles at Silvio O. Conte Forum. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Chestnut Hill, MA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Ahmed Hill (13) dunks the ball during the second half against the Boston College Eagles at Silvio O. Conte Forum. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Virginia Tech Hokies (20-8, 9-7 ACC) welcome the #25 Miami Hurricanes (20-8, 10-6 ACC) to Cassell Coliseum on Monday night in the Hokies’ second-to-last home game of the 2016-17 season. Both teams enter the match-up red hot, with the Hokies winning four out of their last five entering play, while Miami is coming to Blacksburg fresh off of back-to-back upsets against #18 UVA and #10 Duke.

For everything you need to know for this match-up, check out the full game preview here.

Action Prior to Under 16 Media Timeout

  • Hokies moving the ball extremely well on their first few possessions of the game. Hill hits a corner three, and they come right back down and pound it inside to Khadim Sy with a bucket in the paint. Outlaw assisted on both of those baskets, making his presence felt as well.
  • Hokies off to a very good start offensively, hitting four of their first six shots from the floor. All four baskets have been off of an assist in the early going, and Khadim Sy leads the way with four points.
  • Defensively, the Hokies have done a nice job so far at getting out and contesting Miami’s shooters. Aside from a couple of long rebounds, Tech is holding their own on the glass so far as well.

Action Prior to Under 12 Media Timeout

  • Ty Outlaw gets on the scoreboard by canning a three. He’s shot 75% from deep over his last three games, and is really starting to make his presence felt on the offensive end of the floor.
  • Miami has started 3-of-6 from deep in the game so far, with Vasiljevic and Lawrence knocking down the few clean looks that the Hurricanes have gotten from deep.

Action Prior to Under 8 Media Timeout

  • Pick-and-roll on the screens extended beyond the three point line have been very successful for the Hokies in the early going. The two-man game on offense looks like the way to continue to score until Miami adjusts. Allen flipped it out to Outlaw on the most recent three point field goal. Outlaw has six points, three rebounds, and two assists at the 10:20 mark of the first half.
  • Hokies once again do a great job at closing out the three point line, but Vasiljevic hits another three. The Australian freshman can really shoot it from deep.
  • Robinson and Allen have really stepped up their perimeter defense over the last few games. This has been a major reason why the Hokies have started to get things turned around of late.
  • Robinson has now stripped the ball away twice from a Miami slasher in the last minute and a half…this ties into the whole commitment to defense thing that I was talking about. He’s really starting to bring it on both ends of the floor.

Action Prior to Under 4 Media Timeout

  • Hokies are up to five turnovers now with seven minutes to play in the first half. Hokies had 15 turnovers in the first match-up between these two teams, which proved to be a major contributor to the loss.
  • Ty Outlaw now has made 15 of his last 20 threes from the floor. Outlaw is up to nine points already.
  • Three straight turnovers by the Virginia Tech offense, and are already up to seven in the first half. That needs to get cleaned up.
  • The Hokies are starting to frustrate Miami offensively, as Justin Robinson draws the third foul of the half on Miami’s Dewan Huell. With the foul, the Hokies hold a 23-21 lead at the media timeout.

Action Prior to Halftime

  • Outlaw hits ANOTHER three. He’s unconscious from deep, and is turning into a fan favorite at Cassell.
  • Robinson has turned the ball over three times, but he’s hit been a spark on offense and has drawn two charges and stripped the ball loose multiple times on defense. He’s been aggressive on both ends and the Hokies will need him to continue to be in order to be at their best.
  • Hokies take a 27-26 lead into the half. Ty Outlaw has four three pointers and is up to 12 points to lead all scorers, but the Hurricanes have remained in the game despite shooting only 38% from the floor due to eight first half turnovers by the home team.