Kyle Shy had 20 points in the Wildcats’ win over Chesnee on Friday. Ledger Sports Editor

The Blacksburg Wildcats are living up to their preseason hype.

Rodney Poston had 27 points and Kyle Shy added 20 as the Wildcats improved to 4-1 with a 77-68 victory over Chesnee Friday.

“This is a very big win for us,” Blacksburg coach Travis Miller said. “(Former Blacksburg star) Jason McCraw is doing a great job with the Chesnee program and it is a super win to beat them.”

Trailing by three heading into the fourth quarter, sophomore Dustin Deese hit a three-pointer that gave the Wildcats the lead for good.

The Wildcats won the game at the foul line, where they made 18 of 23 free throws, including several clutch ones down the stretch.

“We shot free throws well and that was a big key,” Miller said.

The Wildcats also took advantage of the absence of Chase Holmes, the Eagles’ best player who sat for most of the second half after being whistled for his fourth foul early in the third quarter.

“That was a huge turning point for us,” Miller said.

The Wildcats made nine three-pointers, including four by Shy and two each by Deese and Quinton Hemphill.

The Wildcats led by a point at the end of the first quarter and at the break.

The Eagles went on a spurt to open the third quarter to seize the lead before the Wildcats regained the momentum with a spurt of their own.

Tyler Otey and Tim Boyd had big games on the boards for the Wildcats.

“Down the stretch they really came through for us,” Miller said.

The Wildcats will host Indian Land on Tuesday. The game will begin at 8 p.m.