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The Big Ten ACC Challenge kicked off on Monday night, with two games on the slate for college basketball fans.
Below we’ll take a look at the results and highlights from day one.
Virginia Tech def. Minnesota, 67-57
Sean Pedulla put up 17 points, Justyn Mutts added 16 points and nine rebounds and Virginia Tech topped Minnesota 67-57 at Cassell Coliseum.
Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball @HokiesMBB
Grant from the corner 👌 pic.twitter.com/SFBFtyuOhA
Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball @HokiesMBB
Putting in work down there, @mylyjael 💪 pic.twitter.com/2S2o3AURPF
Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball @HokiesMBB
𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗧 ❌
𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗡 💰Way to hold it down on both ends, @GBasile00 and @PedullaSean pic.twitter.com/GHga9trwGB
The Golden Gophers kept things tight until the six-minute mark of the first half when Virginia Tech rattled off a 17-5 run to head into halftime with a 39-27 lead. The Hokies were in complete control in the second half, going up by as much as 20 points, and cruised to their seventh win of the season (7-1).
Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein
Virginia Tech Thoughts:
1. Justyn Mutts is beyond a Glue Guy.
2. Sean Pedulla might be the most improved guard in the country.
3. Cassell Coliseum should be on FIRE on Sunday for UNC. https://t.co/Yu62wZLE9N
Minnesota (4-3) was led by Ta’Lon Cooper (13 points, five assists, four steals) and Pharrel Payne (13 points, six rebounds).
The Golden Gophers will look to get back on track against No. 5 Purdue on Saturday, Dec. 4. Up next for Virginia Tech, on that same day, is a showdown with No. 18 North Carolina.
Pittsburgh def. Northwestern, 87-58
Make it a clean sweep for the ACC on Monday night. And this one was never really in doubt.
Pittsburgh blew out Northwestern, 87-58, led by Blake Hinson’s 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Pitt Basketball @Pitt_MBB
The drive 🌀 the finish 💥
📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/Wt7HeXJ1GX
Pitt Basketball @Pitt_MBB
Shooters shoot 🎯
Panthers are 60% from beyond the arc
Pitt 30 – Northwestern 22 (2:24 1st)
📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/kf5rdE2HP6
Pitt Basketball @Pitt_MBB
Good ball movement ➡️ Easy finish
📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/QbVhZ2GSK2
Greg Elliott (18 points) and Nelly Cummings (17 points, six assists) added big nights for the Panthers, who took a 16-14 lead with 8:06 remaining in the first half and never trailed again. The Panthers obliterated the Wildcats in the second half by a 50-30 margin.
Chase Audige led the way for Northwestern with 14 points.
The 5-3 Panthers next face NC State on Friday, Dec. 2. Northwestern (5-2) gets No. 20 Michigan State on Sunday.
