Hokies to play for Charleston Classic championship on Sunday - VT hokiesports.com

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CHARLESTON, S.C. – Virginia Tech will play for hardware Sunday afternoon, as the Hokies take on the College of Charleston at 3:30 p.m. for the Charleston Classic championship.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Sunday, Nov. 20 | 3:30 p.m. ET
TD Arena (Charleston, S.C.)
at College of Charleston
Series: VT leads 1-0
Game Notes: Virginia Tech (PDF)

TV Broadcast
ESPN2
Play-by-Play: Jay Alter
Analyst: Debbie Antonelli

Local Radio
Virginia Tech Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Zach Mackey
Analyst: Mike Burnop

THE SERIES

Virginia Tech and Charleston have met once before, a 98-87 victory for Tech on Dec. 14, 1954 in Charleston, S.C.
When the Hokies won the Charleston Classic in 2018, the College of Charleston wasn't competing in the tournament.
Although this will be Mike Young's first meeting against the Cougars as the Hokies' head coach, he is quite familiar with his former SoCon foe. Young had a 7-16 ledger against CofC while at Wofford.
College of Charleston head coach Pat Kelsey and Coach Young have squared off twice before, with Young winning both those battles at Wofford while Kelsey was the head coach at Winthrop.

ROAD TO THE TITLE GAME

The Hokies have made the Charleston Classic title game in each of their trips to the Holy City.
Tech's path to the 'ship includes a 75-71 triumph over Old Dominion on Thursday, followed by a 61-59 decision against Penn State in the semis.
The Hokies relied on 40 points in the paint (tied season high – Lehigh) to overcome a dismal shooting performance from downtown against the Nittany Lions.
Meanwhile, The College advances to the title game for the first time in the Charleston Classic (four appearances). The Cougars defeated Davidson (89-66) and Colorado State (74-64) en route to Sunday's final.

SCOUTING THE COUGARS

The College of Charleston defeated Colorado State, 74-64, on Friday evening to clinch a spot in the championship game.
Sophomore guard Reyne Smith leads the Cougars in scoring with 13.8 points per game. On Nov. 14, he set the program record for the most 3-point field goals made in a single game (eight).
The College of Charleston is averaging 85.2 points per game, while Tech hasn't allowed more than 77 points in a game this season.
In their only game against an ACC team this season, the Cougars led No. 1 North Carolina by seven at the half before falling, 102-86, in Chapel Hill, N.C. on Nov. 11.

BATTLE IN THE COUGARS' DEN

Sunday's championship game will be a true road test for the Hokies, which could bode well for the resume come March.
CofC has fared quite well through its first five games, going 4-1. All but one contest (Davidson), has been against a 2022 NCAA Tournament team.
The Cougars went 9-6 at home last year.

CLAMPING DOWN IN THE SEMIS

Penn State's Jalen Pickett and Seth Lundy each scored 20 points in Thursday's win over Furman. However, a defense anchored by Hunter Cattoor held that duo to 5 of 15 shooting and 13 points Friday in the semis.
The Nittany Lions entered the semifinal averaging 81 ppg, but was held to a season-low 59 against the Hokies.
"I thought our team just did a remarkable job [defensively]," Young said. "And that's why we won. We defended at a really, really high level against a very, very good offensive basketball team."
It was the first time VT won when scoring less than 62 points in the Mike Young era. The Hokies had been 0-18 when scoring less than 62 points, previously.

HELPING THE CAUSE

Tech recorded the ACC's second P5 win of the season Friday against Penn State.
Wake Forest's home win vs. Georgia was the only other P5 win prior to Friday for the league.
No. 16 Virginia followed up the Hokies' win with an 86-79 victory over No. 5 Baylor.

PLEDGE PER THREE
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