December 30, 2002

Box Score

VT 76, Towson 52

 

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Brian Chase had a career night, as the Virginia Tech men's basketball team defeated Towson, 76-52, in Monday night's game at Cassell Coliseum. Chase recorded the 1,000th point of his career in the second half, while dishing out a career-high seven assists. With the victory, the Hokies improve to 6-5 on the season, while the Tigers fall to 3-6.

Tech was in control for the entire game. After Towson opened the game with the first four points of the contest, the Hokies scored the next seven points and took a 33-23 lead into intermission. Tech never trailed in the second half, and opened up a 60-35 lead on a dunk by Bryant Matthews (Jr., Columbia, S.C.) with 8:15 remaining.

Tech dominated the game on the boards, as the Hokies grabbed a season-high 51 rebounds and outrebounded the Tigers, 51-30. Tech held Towson to just 35.1% from the floor for the game.

Matthews led the Hokies with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Carlos Dixon (Jr., Salisbury, N.C.) added 17 points, including 15 points from three-point range. Terry Taylor (Sr., Chesapeake, Va.) notched his fourth double-double of the season, with 14 points and 11 boards.

Chase, a senior guard from Washington, D.C., becomes the 32nd Hokie to reach the 1,000 career-point mark.

Keon Blanks was perfect from the field for the Tigers, scoring a team-high 12 points, including three-of-three from beyond the arc.

The Hokies return to action Saturday, Jan. 4 when they host ACC opponent Florida State, as part of a Tech basketball double-header. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum and will be followed by the women's conference opener against Syracuse at 7 p.m.