Virginia Tech drubs Vermont, 73-51

Virginia Tech made 10 3-pointers and turned in a strong defensive performance en route to a 73-51 triumph over visiting Vermont on Saturday.

The victory extended Virginia Tech's winning streak to three games and improved the Hokies' home record to 6-0. Virginia Tech (8-3) had a 17-3 edge in points off turnovers.

The Catamounts (8-4) made 4 of 20 3-point attempts after averaging 10.6 3-pointers in their previous 11 games. Vermont shot 36.8 from the field (21 of 57).

Virginia Tech's Lynn Kidd had a game-high 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. The Hokies received 13 points from Tyler Nickel and 10 from Hunter Cattoor. Robbie Beran and Mekhi Long each finished with seven rebounds.

Virginia Tech point guard Sean Pedulla returned to the lineup after missing last week's 71-50 victory over Valparaiso with a foot injury. He scored seven points in 16 minutes.

Nick Fiorillo (13) and TJ Hurley (nine) were Vermont's leading scorers. No other Vermont player scored more than five. The Catamounts were outrebounded 42-26.

Virginia Tech scored the game's first eight points. Vermont didn't get on the scoreboard until Aaron Deloney made a jumper 6:24 into the contest.

The Hokies went on an 18-0 run before Vermont scored again. Fiorillo's layup sliced Virginia Tech's lead to 26-4 with 7:08 left in the first half. The Hokies led by as many as 24 points in the half and held a 36-17 halftime lead.

Vermont missed 17 of its first 18 field-goal attempts and shot 7 of 27 (25.9 percent) from the field over the first 20 minutes. The Hokies made eight 3-pointers in the half.

Vermont failed to get closer than 16 points in the second half. Virginia Tech pushed its lead to 27 points, 67-40, on a Nickel 3-pointer with 7:12 to play.

—Field Level Media