Liberty and Virginia Tech will meet in the Vines Center on Sunday, November 4th at 3pm in an open scrimmage. Tickets will be $10 for the public and $5 for students and the proceedswill go to hurricane victims that have been affected this hurricane season throughout the Southeast.
“The cause is fabulous,” Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay said. “Anytime we get to participate in relief efforts, not only is it a blessing for those that need help, it’s also a blessing for us. To be able to partner with LU Send and Virginia Tech basketball, we’re really excited about it.”
Liberty hasn’t hosted an ACC opponent at the Vines Center since Clemson made a visit in 2009. The Hokies and Flames have met on 17 previous occasions, with the most recent meeting coming during the 2014-15 season. Virginia Tech has been ranked in the top 15 in some preseason publications as they look to build on their 2018 NCAA Tournament appearance. Former Liberty head coach Dale Layer joined Buzz Williams’ staff this summer as a special assistant to the head coach. Williams and Layer have worked together previously at Colorado State and Marquette. Layer made a trip to the Vines Center last season as a member of the Mercer coaching staff.
“I have the utmost respect for Buzz Williams and his staff,” McKay stated. “They have a team that is preseason as high as 12 in some polls. It’s an arduous task for our group. That being said, I’m excited we get this caliber of opponent in the Vines. That doesn’t happen often.”
Exhibition games, for which admission is charged, must be against Division II opponents or lower; however, the NCAA has granted a waiver allowing several schools to participate in these ticketed events to benefit various charities. There will be no television or video coverage of the game.
Liberty will open the season on November 8th at 7pm from the Vines Center as the Flames face Maine Fort Kent.
