Hokies Fall to Northern Iowa at Cancun Challenge

The Hokies were no match for Northern Iowa Tuesday night, falling 73-54 at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico.

Joey van Zegeren led the way for the Hokies (2-2, 0-0) with a game-high 15 points plus six rebounds and a block.

Freshman guards Ahmed Hill and Justin Bibbs scored nine and eight points respectively.

For Northern Iowa (5-0, 0-0), guard Matt Bohanan scored a team-high 13 points. Forward Seth Tuttle score 11 points with five rebounds while fellow forward Marvin Singleton added 10 points and nine rebounds.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Northern Iowa beats Virginia Tech by 19 in Cancun. Panthers are deep, experienced, and unselfish. Really solid mid-major team.</p>&mdash; Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/537427117391482881">November 26, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The announcer at the Cancun Challenge is soooooooo sunburnt <a href="http://t.co/tvf4E8ql9Y">http://t.co/tvf4E8ql9Y</a> <a href="http://t.co/bxHfudKJGU">pic.twitter.com/bxHfudKJGU</a></p>&mdash; Rodger Sherman (@rodger_sherman) <a href="https://twitter.com/rodger_sherman/status/537446915060039680">November 26, 2014</a></blockquote>

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Tech was only out-rebounded 27-24 which is an improvement from the first three games. Shooting was even as well with both teams making 7-of-18 shots from behind the three point line and nearly identical totals from the floor.

The main difference came at the free throw line. The Hokies made just three-of-eight shots from the charity stripe (37.5%) while Northern Iowa made 18-of-20 (90%).

Tech head coach Buzz Williams received his first technical foul of the season early in the first half.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Buzz just got his first T of the season. His head is turning purple and he is really, really angry. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hokies?src=hash">#Hokies</a></p>&mdash; Kyle Bailey (@TheClubhouseKB) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheClubhouseKB/status/537398992335024128">November 26, 2014</a></blockquote>

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The Hokies will continue the Cancun Challenge with a game against either Northwestern or Miami of Ohio on Wednesday.