3 takeaways from Virginia Tech's dominating rout of Virginia

One month after dropping the first of two meetings with Virginia, the Virginia Tech men's basketball team was looking to even the score with the Cavaliers Monday night at Cassell Coliseum. Entering the game, the Hokies had dropped four out of five games, but they certainly didn't look like a team that was struggling.

Virginia Tech used a 20-2 run to close out the first half for a 36-16 halftime lead and kept the foot on the pedal in the second half to even the season series and hand the Cavaliers just their second loss in their last 11 games. Here are three takeaways after the Hokies improved to 15-11 overall and 7-8 in the ACC with the 34-point blowout.

Virginia Tech closed first half strong

After a sluggish first four minutes from both teams, the Hokies turned things on while Virginia struggled. Leading 16-14 with 9:43 left in the first half, Virginia Tech went on a 20-2 run to close out the half and was very efficient at both ends of the floor.

Defensively it was their best stretch of the whole season. In holding Virginia to two points on a Leon Bond basket, while holding the Cavaliers to 1-for-10 shooting and missing all 3-point shots. Virginia Tech held Virginia to one-and-done shots, forced a shot clock violation, and put them in their largest halftime deficit of the season. On the other end of the floor, the Hokies shot 8-for-12 from the field. It was a performance that Mike Young had been looking for all season long.

Lynn Kidd have a night

In the first matchup in Charlottesville, it was a night for Lynn Kidd to forget. He took just three shots, made one, and finished with two points. This time, Young made it an emphasis to go inside and establish him as when he's scoring and rebounding this season, that's when the Hokies are at their best. He scored early and often in the first half and set the tone offensively.

Kidd scored the first four Hokies points on a basket and two free throws, then during their 20-2 run to end the half, he went to work in the post. He scored eight straight points at the beginning of the run, three baskets, and two free throws, and finished the half with 12 points and five rebounds. In the second half, Virginia Tech opened the half on a 7-0 run and Kidd capped off the run with a dunk off a Virginia turnover and a pass from MJ Collins for a 43-16 lead. Again, when Kidd's scoring and rebounding like he did against the Cavaliers, Virginia Tech is a different team and it opens more things up for the shooters.

Tyler Nickel and the bench had a night

In the Hokies loss at North Carolina Saturday, Tyler Nickel hit four of six 3-pointers in the loss, but he looked confident shooting the ball against his former team. He has recently become a nice piece off the bench with Mylyjael Poteat and they once again had a strong night. Hunter Cattoor only had six points and Sean Pedulla only had eight, which would make you think that it was going to be a struggle for the Hokies, but not when they get 30 points from their reserves.

Nickel led the way with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting. He hit only two 3-pointers, the first of the game for the Hokies early in the opening half, then right before their 20-2 run, he buried one from the wing. In the second half, he did a good job of getting to the basket and he finished with a team-high six assists and four rebounds. Poteat had 11 points in 18 minutes, splitting time with Kidd and most of his baskets were dunks.

Overall, it was a night that Virginia Tech fans were waiting to get with a dominating performance on both ends of the floor. They only turned it over seven times and shot 50% from the floor, while holding Virginia to just 32%. It is certainly something to build on for the Hokies.