Vanderbilt @ Virginia Tech Game Overview

MJ Collins Jr. scored 15 points against his former team and Grant Huffman added nine points and four steals for the Commodores (8-1), who are off to their best start since the 2007-08 season.

It was a satisfying victory for Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington, who grew up nearby in Salem, Va., and was an assistant at Virginia Tech in the 2012-13 season.

Collins, who started 44 games the previous two seasons for Virginia Tech, made a feisty return to Blacksburg as he barked at his former teammates throughout.

Collins scored all of his points in the first half when he helped Vanderbilt take a five-point lead into halftime.

Jaden Schutt scored 15 points on five 3-pointers and Mylyjael Poteat added 14 points and seven rebounds to lead Virginia Tech (3-5).

It was the fifth straight loss for the Hokies, with each coming by double-digit margins.

A putback basket by Tyler Johnson less than five minutes into the second half reduced Vanderbilt's lead to 45-43. But Virginia Tech failed to get any closer.

Edwards scored all but two of the points in a 9-0 run as the Commodores increased their advantage to 54-43 with 12:19 left.

Huffman helped seal the win as he made steals on consecutive possessions. He passed ahead to Tyler Tanner for a breakaway layup on the first steal and Huffman scored on a fastbreak layup on his second swipe to put Vanderbilt up 71-57 with 4:54 left.

In the seesaw first 10 minutes of the game, neither team led by more than three points until Collins heated up.

In a span of 53 seconds, Collins made a trio of 3-pointers to help Vanderbilt take a 26-16 lead, its biggest lead of the half.

Poteat scored 10 points in the final eight minutes of the period as the Hokies reduced the deficit to 39-34 at the break.

--Field Level Media