VT beats Western Carolina 79-61

Picture Courtesy:  Virginia Tech Athletics

Talk about slow starts. Western Carolina scored just three points in the first eight minutes of the game, all free throws, in Virginia Tech's win over Western Carolina 79-61.

The Cats failed to connect in their first 11 shots and didn't hit a field goal until Justin Browning's basket with about 10:30 left in the first half.  The Catamounts shot just 22%t on 6-of-27 shooting in the first half, and only made 32.8% (20 of 61) for the game, including just 3-of-25 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc.

James Sinclair led the Cats with 16 points, while Trey Sumler playing in his second game of the season, finished with 11 on just 5-of-14 shooting.  Sumler scored 29 points in the Catamounts' loss at Oregon Wednesday night.

"I don't want to use that as an excuse," Western Carolina coach Larry Hunter said about the Catamounts cross-country traveling. "I'm sure the kids are a little tired, and it's draining. But we just weren't very good in the first half. Let's be honest about it. We didn't shoot the ball very well, and we allowed that to frustrate us some. It really wasn't a pretty first half, but they were a little better than we were. At the end of the half, I thought they got a lot better, and they opened it up."

Once again, personal fouls plagued the Cats through out the game.  Western Carolina committed 32 fouls, putting the Hokies on the free throw line for 41 attempts, leading to 23 points for Virginia Tech.  If it wasn't for our past foul prone history, I'd say this will get better as the season progresses, but I don't think it will.  This team will have to win in spite of their foul problems, if they are to have a winning season.


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