The Virginia Tech Hokies improved to 4-0 on Sunday, defeating the Charlotte 49ers 84-76 at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg.
The Hokies controlled the game from the tip when junior forward drained a 3-pointer to give them an early 3-0 lead. Virginia Tech would continue to control Charlotte in the first half, maintaining a 10-12-point lead throughout the half. However, just before halftime, 49ers guard Ben Bradford got hot, narrowing Tech’s lead to 33-30.
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In a game of runs for Virginia Tech, it went on another in the final over the final minute-and-a-half before intermission. Senior guard Jailen Bedford and senior forward Tobi Lawal drained back-to-back 3s, pushing VT’s lead back to nine points. Sophomore guard Ben Hammond made two free throws, followed by Lawal making three more free throws, and the Hokies went into the half with a 44-32 lead.
Tech dominated the early stages of the second half, keeping a double-digit lead, by as many as 17 points, until it went cold from the field. After taking a 55-38 lead with 15:37 remaining in the game, Charlotte slowly crept back into the game. After Kuluel Mading made a 3-pointer with 9:31 left, the 49ers trailed the Hokies by only one point.
Over the next few minutes, Charlotte had multiple opportunities to tie or take the lead, but was unable, and the Hokies would go on another run, taking an 81-68 lead with just over one minute remaining in the game. That would be enough for Virginia Tech to pull away and win its fourth straight to begin the season.
Bedford led the Hokies with 21 points, while Lawal was outstanding again, scoring 18 points and pulling down a game-high 15 rebounds. Virginia Tech was outstanding from the free-throw line, making 30 of its 36 attempts. The same can’t be said from the field, where the Hokies shot only 37%, including 34% from beyond the arc.
Freshman sensation Neoklis Avdalas had an off day shooting the ball and scored 10 points. Junior guard Jaden Schutt scored 12 points off the bench for Tech.
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Another area where the Hokies lacked was on the glass. The 49ers outrebounded them 42-39, with many of those boards coming on the offensive end.
It was a gritty win for Virginia Tech. The kind of game it needed as the schedule continues to toughen. The Hokies are back in action on Wednesday when they host Bryant in Blacksburg.
