Virginia Tech and Saint Mary’s are set to clash in an exciting matchup of undefeated teams on Thursday afternoon during the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Paradise Island, Bahamas. Both teams are coming off impressive performances, looking to extend their perfect records.
Virginia Tech enters this contest with a spotless 6-0 record, marking their best start since the 2019-20 season. The Hokies edged out Colorado State 66-64 in a tightly contested game in the tournament’s opening round. To secure a victory against Saint Mary’s, which boasts a 7-0 record this season, the Hokies will need to maintain their strong defensive play.
Saint Mary’s, led by Paulius Murauskas with 20 points and supported by Mikey Lewis with 15, overcame Wichita State with a 70-65 win, despite struggling with their perimeter shooting, making only 12.5% (2 of 16) from beyond the arc. This sharp decline in shooting percentage is significantly below their season average of 42.1%. The ability of Saint Mary’s to find their shooting rhythm could be crucial against a Virginia Tech team that scores at a remarkable rate of 87.8 points per game.
Defensively, Virginia Tech demonstrated their prowess against Colorado State by limiting them to just 21.1% (4 of 19) on 3-point attempts. Hokies coach Mike Young highlighted the importance of strong defense, noting their strategy to restrict Colorado State’s 3-point shooting, which played a key role in their victory.
Jailen Bedford has emerged as a key player for the Hokies after leading the scoring with 17 points, while Tyler Johnson contributed significantly with nine points and 12 rebounds.
Additionally, the matchup between Virginia Tech and Saint Mary’s marks their first-ever meeting. Young expressed respect for the longtime Gaels coach, Randy Bennett, who is currently in his 25th season. Bennett has successfully led his team to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four years, showcasing his capability as a top-tier coach in college basketball.
As both teams meet, fans can expect a thrilling battle as each squad aims to keep their unbeaten streak alive.