Virginia Tech 70, Mississippi Valley State 49: Senior guard Erick Green scored 23 points as the host Hokies ran away from the winless Delta Devils.
Green, who entered the game as the nation's second leading scorer, went 8-of-13 and added five rebounds and four assists. Marquis Rankin added 10 points for the Hokies (9-1).
Davon Usher led three Delta Devils (0-6) in double figures with 19 points. Darius Tomlin added 15, and Matt Smith had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Hokies started the second half with an 8-2 run and put the game away with a 15-2 run for a 53-30 lead with 9:33 left.
Usher, the Delta Devils' leading scorer, did not start but hit three 3-pointers in the first half to erase an early deficit. Smith's dunk gave Mississippi Valley State a 22-20 lead with 6:31 left but Virginia Tech finished the half on a 10-2 run.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Green is the first Hokie to score at least 20 points in the first nine games of a season since Bimbo Coles (1989-90). ... Mississippi Valley State entered the game ranked last in the nation in field-goal percentage (31.8) and shot 25.7 percent (18-of-70) Monday. ... The Hokies outrebounded Mississippi Valley State 47-42 despite being minus-six in the first half.
Mississippi Valley State | Virginia Tech | |
Davon Usher 19 | Scoring | Erick Green 23 |
Darius Tomlin 4 | Assists | Erick Green 4 |
Matt Smith 10 | Rebounds | Jarell Eddie 10 |
Darius Tomlin 5 | Free Throws Made | Erick Green 6 |
Cortland Henry 2 | Steals | Erick Green 2 |
Matt Smith 4 | Blocks | Joey van Zegeren 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Mississippi Valley State | 49 | 25.7 | 4-29 | 9-14 | 6 | 42 | 5 | 5 | 14 |
Virginia Tech | 70 | 38.3 | 2-12 | 22-30 | 10 | 47 | 9 | 4 | 15 |