Michigan
5-1,0-0Big Ten
Virginia Tech
3-3,0-0ACC
Michigan Downs Virginia Tech in Fort Myers Tip-Off
11/25/2024 8:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The University of Michigan men's basketball team used a strong second half to pull away from Virginia Tech, defeating the Hokies 75-63 on Monday (Nov. 25) in the opening round of Beach Division play at the Fort Myers Tip-Off.
Leaders and Best:
Roddy Gayle Jr. led all scorers, scoring 20 points on 6-for-13 shooting while adding four rebounds and four assists. Will Tschetter also scored in double figures, adding 10 points.
Second Half:
Both teams traded baskets to start the half, but Michigan (5-1) went on a 7-0 run to lead 53-49 with 12 minutes to go. Tre Donaldson led the strong start, scoring nine points in the first eight minutes with two made three-pointers. L.J. Cason began to find his rhythm as well, adding five points.
Virginia Tech (3-3) then went on a 3:52 scoring drought while the Wolverines made five of seven field goals to lead 61-52 with 7:01 to play. The Hokies went over six minutes without a made field goal, and Michigan maintained its lead. Vladislav Goldin played some key minutes after getting into foul trouble in the first half, scoring all eight of his points in the second period.
Virginia Tech made just one field goal over the final five minutes and turned the ball over 19 times throughout the game. U-M tightened things up on offense in the second half, committing just four turnovers while getting to the free throw line 18 times compared to just twice in the first half.
First Half:
Michigan started the game 1-for-10 from three-point range and went on a four-and-a-half-minute scoring drought while Virginia Tech went on a 10-0 run. Tschetter hit a three-pointer to halt the run, but Virginia Tech led 14-8 with 12:53 to go in the half.
Michigan shot 28 percent from the field in the opening 10 minutes, and the Hokies made six of their next seven shots to lead 26-17 at the under-eight timeout. Gayle led a 12-2 Michigan run, scoring seven points over that span as the Wolverines took a 29-28 lead with 3:55 to go.
U-M made just six of 23 three-point attempts in the first half, three of which were made by Nimari Burnett. The Wolverines didn't reach the free throw line until 54 seconds to go in the half, while the Hokies went 7-for-10 from the stripe. The Wolverines closed out the half on a 17-7 run despite not making a field goal over the final 2:54 to take a 34-33 lead into the break.
What's Next
Michigan will take on the winner of Xavier/South Carolina in the championship matchup of the Beach Division at the Fort Myers Tip-Off at Suncoast Arena on Wednesday (Nov. 27) at 8:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on FS1.
Notes
• Michigan improves to 5-2 all-time vs. Virginia Tech.
• This was Donaldson's fifth game making at least two three-pointers so far this season.
• Wolf's 11 rebounds mark his third game with double-digit rebounds this season.
• Michigan's four turnovers in the second half are the joint-fewest (Tarleton State) committed in a half by the Wolverines this season.
