After finishing their non-conference schedule at 11-2, the Virginia Tech men's basketball team opened ACC play on Wednesday at Cassell Coliseum in the first of two Commonwealth Clashes with Virginia. Mike Young's team did it minus three players.
Tobi Lawal missed another game with his foot injury, and Antonio Dorn was out for another game with a back injury. Sophomore Tyler Johnson missed the game with an injury. According to David Cunningham of Tech Sideline, all three were in sweats. Both teams struggled offensively at times because of the defense each team played and turnovers, but in the end, the Hokies were able to survive a triple overtime to win by 10 points to improve to 12-2 and drop the 21st-ranked Cavaliers to 11-2.