Virginia Tech overcame a slow start and blew away the Campbell Camels 85-60 in Cassell Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. The Hokies improved to 8-3 with the win, while Campbell dropped to 8-3.
Nine Tech players were in the rotation, and only one (Dorian Finney-Smith) played 30 minutes. Seth Greenberg used his bench a lot, and the minutes were divided up like this: Cadarian Raines, 17 minutes; Robert Brown, 16 minutes; C.J. Barksdale, 15 minutes; and Marquis Rankin, 14 minutes.
Dorenzo Hudson and Victor Davila led the Hokies with 15 points apiece. Davila scored in double figures despite suffering a nasty cut above his left eye while battling for a rebound.
The other three starters scored in double figures as well. Erick Green had 12 points and six assists, Jarell Eddie added 11 points and eight rebounds, while Dorian Finney-Smith had 10 points and four rebounds.
C.J. Barksdale had eight points off the bench, Robert Brown and Cadarian Raines added five apiece, while Marquis Rankin added four. At times Seth Greenberg played Erick Green at the shooting guard position while Rankin ran the team at point guard.
Tech only shot 37% in the first half, but lit up the nets for 73.1% in the final 20 minutes. For the game, the Hokies were 29-of-53 (54.7%) from the field, 5-of-12 (41.7%) from three-point range and 22-of-27 (81.5%) from the free throw line. They committed only nine turnovers, though they were outrebounded 33-27.
Tech didn’t play particularly well in the first half and only led 32-29 at halftime. They opened up the second half on a 15-0 run that basically sealed the game. Campbell guard Rico Ferguson was whistled for an intentional foul after a turnover with the score 40-29 Hokies. After Dorian Finney-Smith knocked down two free throws, the Hokies got the ball and Jarell Eddie drained a three-pointer, then knocked down a jumper in the lane to cap the 15-0 run and put his team up 47-29.
Eddie’s short stretch of scoring was effectively the straw that broke the Camels’ backs.
Virginia Tech returns to action on Monday night when they host North Florida. Tip-off is scheduled for 7pm, and the game will be televised on the internet by TheACC.com and ESPN3.com.
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