The Virginia Tech Hokies opened their ACC schedule on New Year’s Eve at Cassell Coliseum, hosting the No. 21 Virginia Cavaliers without three key players: senior forward Tobi Lawal, sophomore guard Tyler Johnson and freshman center Antonio Dorn. In one of the grittiest performances in recent Hokie history, Virginia Tech defeated Virginia 95-85 in triple overtime.
If you had stopped watching at the end of regulation, the final score would shock you. The game was tied at 55 apiece going into the first overtime. Both teams had chances to win in the final 30 seconds, but missed shots. Speaking of missed shots, neither team shot well: Virginia shot 36% from the field and was dreadful from 3-point range, making only 10 of 45 attempts (22%). The Hokies weren’t any better, shooting 35% from the floor, but did make 9 of 28 (32%) from beyond the arc.
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The Hokies went ahead by four points in the first overtime before the Hoos battled back to take a 3-point lead. Then, with around a minute remaining, Virginia freshman guard Chance Mallory drills a 3-pointer to put UVa back up by two. This time, freshman center Christian Gurdak saved the Hokies, making two free throws. After another Virginia basket, Gurdak comes through again, slamming the ball through the hoop with four seconds left, forcing a second overtime.
This is where it looked like Virginia would take over. The Hokies had other ideas. VT controlled much of the second overtime, and when sophomore guard Ben Hammond made two free throws with 14 seconds remaining, the Hokies led 75-70. Remarkably, Malik Thomas scored a quick bucket, leaving eight seconds on the clock. He was fouled on the play and went to the free-throw line, where he was successful, making it 75-73. Hammond made both and seven seconds remained. Taking only two seconds off the clock, Thomas drains a trey. Hammond makes one of two free throws on the other end, leaving the door open. With only two seconds remaining, Thomas misses another 3-pointer, but Mallory was under the basket, caught it, and scored. Here comes triple overtime.
In triple overtime, Virginia Tech finally assumed control. Hammond made two buckets to give Tech an 82-80 lead. Thomas responded, tying the game again. On the other end, Hokies forward Amani Hansberry drains a 3-pointer, giving VT an 85-82 advantage. They would never trail or be tied again.
This was an impressive win for the Hokies. Not only did they beat a good Virginia team, but they also protected home-court advantage. And they did it without three key contributors.
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There were several heroes for the Hokies on Wednesday: Gurdak finished with 17 points and 19 rebounds in his first ACC game. He played most of the game, logging 46 minutes of action. Hansberry was terrific, too, finishing with 17 points and 15 rebounds. It was yet another double-double for him. Freshman star Neoklis Avdalas finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
However, Avdalas had a rough day shooting the ball, making only 5 of his 21 attempts. Far too often, Avdalas forced the action, taking an ill-advised three or fadeaway jumper. Some of that could be him trying to compensate for the losses of Johnson and Lawal.
The No. 1 hero on Wednesday for Virginia Tech: Hammond. The sophomore from Northern Virginia had the game of his life, scoring a career-high 30 points off the bench. Hammond also had five rebounds and five assists. Most impressive, he didn’t even turn the ball over, playing 42 minutes. Hammond also made 16 of 18 from the free-throw line.
The Hokies didn’t quit. Anytime it appeared the deeper Cavaliers were going to pull away, someone from Virginia Tech stood up. Gurdak saw increased minutes and took advantage. Hammond was phenomenal in all aspects. Hansberry was a warrior. Junior guard Jaden Schutt drilled some clutch 3s. A complete team win for VT, which improved to 12-2 on the season and 1-0 in ACC play.
There is currently no timetable for the return of Lawal, Johnson, and Dorn. It sounds like we are at the point where Lawal and Dorn are day-to-day. Johnson injured his foot against Elon on Dec. 20, and his projected return is murkier.
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Next up for the Hokies is a quick trip down I-77 to face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem on Saturday. The Deacs are 9-5 and 0-1 in ACC play. They have lost two in a row, including on Wednesday to N.C. State.
