Mike Barber Richmond Times-Dispatch
BLACKSBURG – Mike Young and the Virginia Tech basketball coaching staff have suited up for eight games since the Jan. 23 win over Boston College.
His players looked pretty sharp Monday night, too.
Senior center Lynn Kidd, who was held to just two points in Tech's previous match against Virginia, delivered 14 points and seven rebounds for the visiting Cavaliers, and the Hokies defeated their rivals 75-41. They dominated and split the season series for the third year in a row.
It was Tech's most lopsided victory in the rivalry since a 105-70 win in 1961.
Tyler Nickel, a sophomore forward from Harrisonburg who played at North Carolina last season, provided a spark for Tech again off the bench, scoring 13 points. He made 2 of 4 3-point shots.
The Hokies took control of the game midway through the first half and never let it go, completely shutting down the Cavaliers' already questionable offense.
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Sophomore guard Isaac McKneely scored 11 points for UVa, which lost two home games last week to Pittsburgh but beat Wake Forest, which dropped it from the Associated Press Top 25 rankings.
Ever since he hit 10 3-pointers in a road win at Florida State on Feb. 10, Virginia's opponents have focused on perimeter defense. UVa made four threes in a home loss to Pittsburgh and four threes in Saturday's home loss to Wake Forest.
Virginia started the game with Kidd under center Jordan Miner. Miner played well in this matchup, which helped the Cavaliers win earlier this season, but he struggled from the beginning. He yielded the basket to Kidd, whose shot was blocked by Kidd and fouled Kidd with 1:48 left, but Bennett gave him a quick hook and a turn to freshman center Blake Buchanan.
It didn't matter that Kidd scored the Hokies' first four points and 14 points in the first half.
Neither team could make shots. Virginia Tech failed to connect on seven of its first eight attempts, while UVa failed to connect on five of its first six. The game was tied 4-4 with 14 minutes and 20 seconds left in the first half.
However, both teams' shooting percentages improved, with the Hokies up 20-14 after a stretch in which they made 6 of 9 attempts, including 3 3-pointers. That started a 23-2 surge for the home team, and Tech built a 36-14 lead with a minute left before intermission.
UVA redshirt freshman Leon Bond III dunked with 46 seconds left for a 20-0 lead, sending Tech into the locker room with a 36-16 lead.
The Hokies, who allowed 96 points in Saturday's loss to North Carolina, held Virginia to its fewest first-half points of the season.
Tech attacked hard in the second half, but UVa couldn't find a way to fight back.
Both teams are off until Saturday, with Virginia hosting North Carolina and the Hokies taking on Pittsburgh.
