BLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech earned its second straight ACC win in an 85-70 win by the Syracuse Orange at Cassell Coliseum on Saturday night.
The Hokies lifted off the 3-point line over Syracuse with a solid night, finishing 13 of 32 from the deep, with a season-high 11 threes in the first half alone. They weren’t shy about shooting, 31 attempted 3-pointers was the most since Tech put up 37 against Coppin State on Dec. 19, 2020.
Grant Basile led the hot-blooded Hokies with 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Sixth-year senior Justyn Mutts complemented Basile’s performance with a double-double tag: 11 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, leading the team in the last two categories. This was the sixth double-double of the season for Mutts.
Basile appropriately opened the game with a 3-pointer. The Hokies took a comfortable lead by the 10-minute mark, where they led 29-17. At this point, they opened a scoring streak in which 9 of their last 10 field goals before halftime were three-pointers.
Hunter Cattoor led that torturous tour, hitting five three-pointers in the first half alone. Cattoor tied his season high with three point field goals scored and finished 6 of 10 from beyond the arc. He finished the tournament with 20 points and came to Mutts with eight assists. Saturday night marked the first time two Tech players had more than 8 assists since Justin Robinson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker put up the same amount on Jan. 26, 2019 against Syracuse.
John Camden had a career night in his 27 minutes, setting personal bests in points (8), rebounds (6), and assists (3).
The Orange had some setback after the Hokies led by as much as 22 points early in the second half, Syracuse brought them back to 12 points by the 11-minute mark.
Newcomer Judah Mintz led the Orange effort, scoring 21 points in 35 minutes of play, with five turnovers at his expense.
Justin Taylor led the 3-point madness for Syracuse, responding to the Hokies’ 11 with a 4-7 night from beyond the arc. All 12 of his points came from 3-point land, three of them in the second half.
The Hokies closed the door on Cuse’s hot start after halftime with an 8-0 scoring stretch while Mutts wrapped up the run with a roof-jarring slam dunk.
Next up on Tuesday night, the Hokies visit Coral Gables, Fla. to take on No. 20 Miami, who currently sits sixth in the ACC.
Gallery: (1/28/2023) MBB: Syracuse Game
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