How ’bout that Wolfpack! The Pack scored a BIG road ACC win tonight taking down #16 Virginia Tech 70-59. We saw a very well rounded consistent basketball game from the Pack. From the very beginning of the game the ball was pumped into Ben McCauley and he knew what to do with it. His 20 points and 7 rebounds were key in the victory. However, we got contributions from several others. Engin Atsur played a very nice game with 14 points and was very helpful in breaking the press late in the game. Gavin Grant was held scoreless in the first half but broke loose in the second. At one point he had 10 straight points for us and ended up with 16 points and 9 rebounds. Brandon Costner added 9 points and 10 rebounds. Fells got into the act with 11 points and 5 rebounds and 2 highlight reel dunks.

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The Pack face another tough challenge tonight as they face another outstanding backcourt. Sidney Lowe has been quoted as saying “Good guard play wins games”. This could come from his bias since he was a guard, or it could come from the countless hours he’s spent watching basketball, at all levels, I personally think it’s a little bit of both.

Keys to the game for the Pack. Stop Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon. Sounds simply enough, but this task will prove to be as difficult as it was last week where the pack only outscored Virginia’s guards by 2 points. The tough task for the Pack is Dowdell and Gordon aren’t just offensive powerhouses, but they are excellent on the defensive end as well. I’m not one to jump on the bandwagon about Dowdell and Gordon being able to shut us down. As a matter of fact, I think it will be complete opposite. I think we will be able to use our size against them. Supposedly Dowdell and Gordon are able to stop the opposing teams guards, well good luck for us we are a team of forwards! McCauley will face up with their big man who has the same height, but I’m not sure how the other matchups will look. No doubt Atsur, hopefully more than 50%, will be against either Dowdell or Gordon and probably either Grant or Fells with the other. This match up will be key for a Pack win. If we are able to use our size to keep their guards on the bench we have a shot.

Also this will be the Hokies 2nd game in 3 days, when the Pack have had the last week to rest up and really be able to dissect what Virginia Tech should throw at them. This should play as a favor for the Pack. No matter what happens tonight, it will be a tough task and it doesn’t get any easier in the near future. There is no doubt we need a big game from the ACC Freshman point leader Costner and the all but absent Grant. If Costner, Grant and McCauley have big games, look for Seth Greenberg to go to his bench to bring in size, which will hopefully get Dowdell and Gordon out of the game and allow the Pack to return back to Raleigh with their 2nd conference win of the season.

PS. The big thing tonight, the one thing we MUST do in order to be in the vicinity of an upset win is PROTECT THE BASKETBALL! and make foul shots, but PROTECT THE BASKETBALL! NO STUPID TURNOVERS!

Unfortanly for the Pack the rest of the Cav’s put up 15 to sweep the season series. Sidney Lowe’s men cut the lead to 1 with about 10 mins to play before Virginia’s gaurds took over. As we stated in our previous entry, stopping Reynolds was going to be key for a Wolfpack victory, but we just weren’t able to do it.
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