Nov 20, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Saint Joseph’s Hawks ahead Rasheer Fleming (13) shoots the ball throughout the first half towards the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Enviornment at Central Financial institution Middle. Necessary Credit score: Jordan Prather-Imagn Photos After a brutal stretch of losses, Virginia Tech seems to be displaying indicators of life in current weeks.
The Hokies go for his or her third straight victory on Saturday afternoon after they tackle Saint Joseph’s as a part of the Vacation Hoopfest in Philadelphia.
Virginia Tech (5-6) dropped six video games in a row from Nov. 15 to Dec. 7 — the primary 5 by double digits — earlier than authoring a aggressive effort in a 64-59 loss to then-No. 18 Pittsburgh. Maybe that defeat received the Hokies headed in the correct path, as they trounced North Carolina A&T by 28 and beat Navy 80-72 of their most up-to-date contest.
Ben Burnham led the way in which towards Navy final Sunday with 17 factors on 7-of-9 capturing.
“He had an awesome sport,” Virginia Tech coach Mike Younger mentioned. “He performs actually, actually onerous.”
The Hokies shot nicely from the sphere (52.9 p.c), the 3-point arc (10 of 18) and the foul line (16 of 18) in one in every of their finest performances of the season.
Saint Joseph’s (7-4) is coming off a scorching capturing efficiency of its personal in Wednesday’s 84-57 win over American. The Hawks shot 60.4 p.c from the sphere — the primary time in almost 9 years they eclipsed 60 p.c capturing in a contest.
Rasheer Fleming paced the group with 26 factors, 11 rebounds, 4 steals and three blocks. He shot 11 of 15 from the sphere, whereas Erik Reynolds II (8 of 13) additionally shot nicely en path to 23 factors.
Reynolds’ high quality effort was notably noteworthy for the Hawks, because the proficient guard was 3 of seven from 3-point vary after going 6 of 35 from lengthy distance over the earlier 5 video games.
“You bought to like them and consider in them. You bought to look to see if there’s something technical at this level of a man’s profession which you can make a tweak to,” Hawks coach Billy Lange mentioned after Reynolds missed all six 3-point tries in a loss to Charleston final week.
“It might be a toe, it might be his legs, it might be his follow-through, it might be something. So, you bought to judge that and you then received to determine whether or not or not you are going to make that change now.”
–Area Degree Media
