Vanderbilt dominates Virginia Tech as Edwards and Collins shine

On December 4, 2024, in Blacksburg, Virginia, Vanderbilt University achieved a decisive victory against Virginia Tech during the SEC/ACC Challenge. The Commodores, with an impressive performance from their players, Jason Edwards and MJ Collins, came away with an 80-64 win over the Hokies. Edwards led the scoring with 19 points, while Collins contributed with 15 points, demonstrating effective shooting throughout the game. The Vanderbilt team showcased a remarkable shooting percentage by connecting on 53% of their attempts, making 29 out of 55 shots. Virginia Tech struggled against the Commodores' defensive intensity and allowed 28 points off 15 turnovers caused by their opponents. Vanderbilt's defense has forced double-digit turnovers in 8 of their first 9 games, which has been a critical part of their success this season. Despite Virginia Tech's effort to reduce the deficit early in the second half, Vanderbilt consistently responded with scoring runs that maintained their lead. The Commodores built a 39-34 advantage by halftime, and they further extended their lead with a scoring surge after the Hokies had attempted to close the gap. The defeat marked the continuing struggles for Virginia Tech as they have now lost eight consecutive games against Southeastern Conference (SEC) teams. Their last victory against an SEC opponent was back in December 2017. This matchup highlighted the contrasting trajectories of both teams in the current college basketball season. Vanderbilt, improving to a 7-1 record following the win, appears to be on an upward trend, while Virginia Tech's performance continues to raise concerns as they drop to a 3-4 record. As the season progresses, both teams will need to analyze their performances and make adjustments to secure better outcomes in future games.