BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech will face Minnesota in Cassell Coliseum on Monday night in its 14th appearance in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, presented by Continental Tire. The Hokies are undefeated at home this season and are coming off a 69-64 win over Charleston Southern in front of a sellout crowd last Friday.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Monday, Nov. 28 | 7 p.m. ET
Cassell Coliseum (Blacksburg, Va.)
vs. Minnesota
Series: Minnesota leads 1-0
Game Notes: Virginia Tech (PDF) | Minnesota
Monday, Nov. 28 | 7 p.m. ET
Cassell Coliseum (Blacksburg, Va.)
vs. Minnesota
Series: Minnesota leads 1-0
Game Notes: Virginia Tech (PDF) | Minnesota
TV Broadcast
ESPN2
Play-by-Play: Mike Monaco
Analyst: Jordan Cornette
Stay Connected with Tech Men’s Basketball
Local Radio
Virginia Tech Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Zach Mackey
Analyst: Mike Burnop
MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHRISTMAS STORE GAME
- Bring new toys for donation to the Montgomery County Christmas Store! Don’t miss your donation on display during the donation parade at halftime.
THE SERIES
- Virginia Tech and Minnesota have met only once prior to Monday night – a 58-55 Gopher win in the 2011 Big Ten/ACC Challenge at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.
- Mike Young clashed with Minnesota three times as the head coach at Wofford, going 0-3.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GOPHERS
- Minnesota is coming off a two-game stay at the SoCal Challenge, where it split results with California Baptist (W, 62-61 OT) and UNLV (L, 62-71).
- The Golden Gophers are paced in scoring and boards by sophomore Dawson Garcia (15.8 points and 6.7 rebounds) – a 6-11 forward from Savage, Minn.
- Junior Jamison Battle made his season debut for Minnesota against Cal Baptist and is averaging 16 points and six boards in two games this season.
ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE
- The 2022 campaign marks the 24th year of the Challenge, which started in 1999.
- ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will combine to televise all 14 games and will also be streamed via the ESPN app.
- The Hokies are 6-9 all-time in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Their 62-58 win at Maryland last season snapped Tech’s two-game skid in the Challenge.
HE’S EARNED IT
- In just 15 minutes of action against Charleston Southern, Lynn Kidd contributed a career-high 11 points on 5 for 9 shooting, to go along with eight boards.
- “He played a really good ball game,” Young said of Kidd. “Kept some things alive on the glass on a night when Grant [Basile] didn’t have his best stuff. Five offensive rebounds, eight overall, 11 points. He worked [in the offseason]. I believe in basketball gods. They’re in every basketball facility. And they smile upon those that work on their game and are serious. And he had an unbelievable summer in the weight room, on the floor. … I’m proud, he’s earned everything he is getting. Not a thing has been given to him.”
TOUGH STRETCH AHEAD
- Tech’s 69-64 win over Charleston Southern was its fourth consecutive game decided by five points or fewer.
- Things do not get any easier as the Hokies have Minnesota, North Carolina, Dayton and Oklahoma State looming in a span of 13 days.
