It sounds like Virginia Tech had a tough time finding their rhythm early on, especially with only Tobi Lawal really stepping up offensively. Virginia seemed to take advantage of that, getting comfortable in their offense while Tech struggled to generate scoring from other players.

It must have been frustrating for the Hokies to rely so heavily on Lawal in the first half, and even though he put up big numbers, the team couldn’t capitalize on that momentum. The fact that no other Hokie had more than three points in the first half really highlights how one-dimensional the offense was.

How did the second half play out? Did Virginia Tech adjust at all, or did Virginia continue to dictate the tempo?

The Cavaliers threatened to run away with it, taking a 32-17 with 6:38 remaining. But Tech battled back and Tyler Johnson’s layup with 28 seconds left capped a 16-5 run to pull them within four. Elijah Saunders drilled a three at the buzzer to give Virginia a 40-33 lead going into the break.

Some jawing started by Saunders after his made shot led to more jawing as the teams headed for their locker rooms. Ultimately, four technical fouls were called after the buzzer; two on Tech and two on Virginia.

Though Virginia had a hard time handling Lawal’s athleticism in the first half, they kept him largely quiet in the second. Meanwhile, Isaac McKneely was doing his best Steph Curry impersonation, nailing six threes in the game, most of them second half daggers in key possessions.

It sounds like Virginia Tech made a strong push in the second half, with Lawal’s teammates really stepping up. Jaydon Young’s clutch threes at the shot clock buzzer were huge, and it’s great to hear that Ben Hammond came alive, scoring all of his points in the second half and giving the Hokies a real boost. Having other players like Tyler Johnson, Ben Burnham, and Brandon Rechsteiner step up as well helped keep Tech in the game.

However, despite their resilience, it seems like those late missed opportunities really hurt. Rechsteiner’s miss to tie it and Burnham’s potential game-tying three at the end were big moments. It’s tough when you battle back so hard, but fall just short.

Do you think it was a lack of execution in the final moments, or was it more about Virginia’s defense being able to step up when it mattered most?

It sounds like there were a few key areas where Tech just couldn’t get things to click, especially on offense and the glass. Being out-rebounded by a team like Virginia, which struggles in that department, is definitely a tough pill to swallow. And McKneely’s three-point shooting really seemed to hurt them, especially since they couldn’t get the stops they needed at crucial moments.

With the loss dropping them to 6-8 in the ACC, it’s clear that the Hokies are in a bit of a rough spot, but they have a quick turnaround with their next game against Boston College. It could be a good chance for them to bounce back, especially considering BC’s struggles this season.

Do you think the Hokies will be able to shake off this tough loss and come out strong against Boston College? Or do you think they might still be a little rattled?