Virginia Tech Faces VCU in Battle 4 Atlantis Showdown

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas — It has been twelve years since Virginia Tech faced off against VCU, but the teams will meet again on Friday morning in the third-place game of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Both teams are looking to bounce back after losses in the second round of the tournament.

On Thanksgiving Day, Virginia Tech suffered a 77-66 defeat to Saint Mary's, while VCU fell to No. 24 Vanderbilt, 89-74. The Rams (4-3) only led for 18 seconds in their game, and the Hokies (6-1) trailed from the start, giving up the first eight points.

The Hokies will likely play without last year’s top scorer and rebounder, Tobi Lawal, who was seen in a walking boot before the game. “He will miss the VCU game; it’s precautionary,” said Coach Mike Young. The absence of Lawal hurt the Hokies’ offense, as they only managed to shoot 30.9% against Saint Mary’s.

Jailen Bedford, who performed well against Colorado State, struggled against the Gaels, missing all ten of his shot attempts. Amani Hansberry led the team with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Jaden Schutt added 17 points. Young acknowledged the offensive troubles, stating, “We couldn’t get on track offensively in the first half, and that’s frustrating.”

On the other side, VCU is navigating a rocky start under first-year coach Phil Martelli Jr. With eleven players averaging at least 12 minutes per game, Martelli is still figuring out his rotation. “We’re built a certain way where I can go 1 through 13 right now; I feel confident in all of them,” he said.

Lazar Djokovic, a transfer from Charleston, will bolster the Rams’ size at 6-foot-11. VCU also boasts a balanced attack, featuring backcourt players Jadrian Tracey (12.1 points per game), Nyk Lewis (11 ppg), and Terrence Hill Jr. (10.7 ppg).