Orange Start Three-Game Road Swing Saturday

Syracuse at Virginia Tech
Game Details	Saturday, Jan. 26 \| Blacksburg, Va. \| 8 p.m. \| Cassell Coliseum
Game Coverage	TV: ESPN2 Live Video: Watch ESPN Radio: Syracuse IMG Network Live Stats Twitter: @Cuse \| @Cuse_MBB Instagram: @cusepics \| @cuse_mbb
Syracuse Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule
Virginia Tech Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- After posting its third consecutive victory on Thursday night, Syracuse has a quick turnaround as it returns to the court on Saturday to face No. 10/8 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. tipoff.

The game will be televised on ESPN2 and will be available on the Watch ESPN app. Fans can also listen to the action on the Syracuse IMG Radio Network.

ORANGE ON THE ROAD
Saturday's game is the first of three consecutive road games for the Orange. It's the longest road trip of the season. Syracuse is 3-0 in true road contests this season, which includes a win at No. 1 Duke.

ORANGE UPDATE
Syracuse moved into a five-way tie for first place in the ACC after its 73-53 win against Miami on Thursday. The Orange improved to 14-5 overall and 5-1 in league play.

Redshirt junior Elijah Hughes tied his career highs with 22 points and six 3-pointers. He helped the Orange to 14 field goals from behind the arc, which was just one shy of the single-game school record.

Junior Tyus Battle dished out a career-high nine assists as Syracuse recorded a season-high 22. The Orange also posted a season-best 11 blocked shots thanks to five from senior Paschal Chukwu and three from Hughes.

SCOUTING THE HOKIES
Virginia Tech is coming off a 103-82 loss at No. 11/12 North Carolina on Monday. The Hokies enter Saturday's game with a 15-3 overall mark and a 4-2 conference record.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker leads a balanced offense for Virginia Tech. He averages 18.3 points per game. Alexander-Walker is one of four Hokies who averages double figures in scoring. That group includes Kerry Blackshear Jr. (13.7 ppg.), Ahmed Hill (13.2 ppg.) and Justin Robinson (13.1 ppg.). Robinson leads the team and ranks second in the ACC in assists (5.44 apg.), while Alexander-Walker is second in the league in field goal percentage (.548) and fourth in steals (2.06).

Saturday's game will feature two of the top three scoring defenses in the ACC. Virginia Tech ranks second, allowing 61.9 points per game, while Syracuse is third, giving up 62.8 points per game.

Buzz Williams is in his fifth year at the helm of the Virginia Tech program. He has guided the Hokies to a record of 104-66 during that span. Previously, Williams served as head coach at New Orleans and Marquette.

SERIES HISTORY
Syracuse leads the all-time series with Virginia Tech, 9-3. The last meeting took place on the last day of 2017 in the Carrier Dome. The Orange held the Hokies to a .346 shooting percentage (18-of-52) and out-rebounded Virginia Tech, 39-26, in a 68-56 victory. Oshae Brissett led Syracuse with 19 points and nine rebounds.

UP NEXT
Syracuse is back on the road on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at Boston College at 8 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Tyus Battle

Oshae Brissett

Paschal Chukwu

Elijah Hughes

Syracuse University Athletics