GAME NOTES: Seeking to put an end to a two-game losing streak, the Virginia Tech Hokies will hit the road and battle the Florida State Seminoles in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup at the Donald L. Tucker Center on Tuesday evening.

Virginia Tech has dropped back-to-back contests for the first time since the first week in December. The Hokies, who are 8-6 on the season with an 0-2 mark away from home, lost to West Virginia (82-51) and ACC foe Syracuse (68-66) last time out.

Florida State sports an identical 8-6 record, although the Seminoles are 7-2 on their home court this season. The team watched as a four-game win streak came to an end with a 62-55 loss to Mississippi State on Friday.

This clash between ACC rivals will be the 49th among the programs in history. Florida State owns a 28-20 all-time series lead over Virginia Tech, which includes a 70-50 rout of the Hokies last February in Tallahassee.

It seemed Syracuse had things in the bag when the team took on Virginia Tech Saturday, as the Orange held a 42-23 lead over the Hokies at halftime. But Virginia Tech made things interesting in the second half after connecting on 48.4 percent of its shots from the field, including 7-of-14 from 3-point range. In the end though, the deficit was just too much for the Hokies, who fell in their ACC opener. Justin Bibbs tallied a double-double in the loss, netting 22 points with 11 rebounds. Devin Wilson nearly had a double-double of his own with 13 points and eight assists for the Hokies.

Bibbs has been the most consistent player for Virginia Tech this season, as he comes into Tuesday as the only Hokies player to have started in all 14 games. Bibbs leads the team in scoring this season at 12.7 ppg, connecting on 50.4 percent of his field goal attempts. Adam Smith is the only other player with a double-digit scoring average, checking in at 11.9 ppg for a unit that is scoring 69.0 ppg this season. Joey van Zegeren tops the squad in rebounding at 5.3 rpg, and Wilson owns 62 assists with a team-high 14 steals on the year. The Hokies are allowing opponents to score 64.8 ppg on 39.7 percent shooting from the floor.

Florida State actually held a three-point halftime lead over Mississippi State on Friday, but the Bulldogs came roaring back in the second period behind 53.8 percent shooting from the floor and an 11-of-11 mark from the free-throw line. Florida State turned the ball over 19 times, which Mississippi State converted into 22 points. Devon Bookert scored 16 points to lead the team in defeat, while Xavier Rathan-Mayes added 12 points with six rebounds and four assists. The Seminoles went just 11-of-19 from the charity stripe in the loss.

The Seminoles have seemingly skated by on winning home contests this season, especially considering Florida State owns the worst scoring defense in the ACC this season (67.7 ppg allowed to opponents). Thankfully for the 'Noles, their offense is netting 69.7 ppg this season on 47.5 percent shooting from the field. Aaron Thomas is scoring 14.8 ppg to lead the team., but he is deemed out due to eligibility reasons, and hasn't participated in a game in weeks. Montay Brandon (13.7 ppg) and Rathan-Mayes (11.7 ppg) round the double-digit scorers for FSU. Rathan-Mayes owns a team-best 63 assists this season, and Brandon pulls down 5.4 rpg to lead the squad.

Having Thomas would give the Seminoles a serious boost in scoring ability. But the fact that he's no longer around means the 'Noles need to gameplan and find other means of scoring. Rathan-Mayes has stepped up in his absence and, playing at the Tucker Center, should help lead the Seminoles in their second ACC clash of the year.