Two Truths & a Lie From Virginia Tech Men's Basketball Snapping Six-Game Losing Skid

Looking to end a six-game losing streak, the Virginia Tech men's basketball team hosted North Carolina A&T in a non-conference game Thursday night at Cassell Coliseum. It has been a rough stretch for the Hokies who hadn't won since a Veterans Day win over Winthrop by six points.

Virginia Tech got a balanced scoring attack from everyone who played and built a 20-point halftime lead on their way to a 95-67 win over the Aggies. After Tech's first win in a month, here are two truths and a lie from the 28-point victory that saw the Hokies improve to 4-6.

Truth: Rodney Brown earning more playing time

California transfer Rodney Brown, Jr. played very well off the bench knocking down three 3-pointers, playing very well on the defensive end, and even had a basket in the second half going to the hoop, absorbing contact and finishing. He had 13 points in the game.

Is Brown going to be a double-digit scorer every night off the bench? No, but he is an option for energy and as we saw against the Aggies, if he gets in rhythm shooting, he can be a streaky scorer. He only played 11 minutes before Thursday night and he deserves more time. It starts on the defensive end, an area that he has been good in when he has played in 2024-25.

Truth: There are some things to take away from big win

For a team that suffered through a six-game losing streak, anything positive from this win is worth taking. Tech shot the ball well from behind the arc, knocking down 14 3-pointers, their defense forced turnovers that led to easy baskets and freshman point guard Ben Hammond had a night with 17 points.

Considering how things have gone the last month, take anything and everything from this win going forward, including 55 bench points.

Lie: This was just not another bye game win

Don't tell that to Young. In the first half and with the Hokies up 12, the veteran coach was animated on the sideline when his defense forced a turnover. You could tell that the six-game losing streak was eating at him and this win was one that he needed, big time.