If you missed Wednesday night's NIT game against Bethune-Cookman, all you need to know is that Paul Debnam played...with more than nine minutes to go...in the first half. The Hokies had no problem with the lowly Wildcats of the MEAC, coasting to a 79-54 victory in front of 2,982 at Cassell Coliseum. With the victory, Tech advanced to the second round of the NIT for the fourth consecutive year and will face Wichita State Sunday at 11 a.m. The Shockers dominated Nebraska 76-49 yesterday.
The Hokies hit 10 of their first 11 shots to jump out to a 23-9 lead seven minutes in. Tech would push that lead out to as many as 23 in the first half at 42-19. In all honesty, it wasn't even a fair fight and due to the lack of bench players the Hokies never could really take their starters out. Tech shot 61.3 percent from the field (19 of 31) in the first half.
The second half was much of the same as the Wildcats never got closer than 19 points. Tech eventually expanded its advantage to 32 at 69-37 halfway through the half and coasted down the stretch for the 25-point victory.
Tech ended up shooting 56 percent from the field, with eight of the nine players scoring. Five Hokies registered double figures with Jeff Allen leading the way with 19 points. Malcolm Delaney had 13, Manny Atkins recorded 12, while Erick Green and Terrell Bell accounted for 11 and 10, respectively.
Victor Davila didn't play in the second half and is listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup. Coach Greenberg is fearing that Davila may have a torn labrum, which he suffered in the ACC Tournament against Florida State. If Davila can't go, the Hokies will be down to just six scholarship players with Manny Atkins more than likely starting in place of Davila.
That next game comes Sunday morning against the Wichita State Shockers. For the second time in three years, the Hokies will play an 11 a.m. game in the NIT. The first time didn't turn out well as Tech acted like they were still in bed in a 84-66 loss to Baylor in 2009. The game Sunday will be televised on ESPN.
