Virginia Tech Triumphs Over Wake Forest
In a decisive battle on the court, Virginia Tech emerged victorious over Wake Forest with an impressive scoreline of 82-63 on Saturday in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Hokies, with a record now standing at 18 wins and 10 losses (7-8 in the ACC), displayed sharp shooting, achieving 51% accuracy from the floor. They set the tone for the game by securing a 43-33 lead by halftime, ultimately ending a two-game losing streak while simultaneously handing Wake Forest their first setback in four matches.
Key Performances
Key performances came from Neoklis Avdalas and Tobi Lawal, each contributing 17 points to the Hokies’ triumph. Lawal not only shot 63% from the field, hitting 7 of his 11 attempts, but also made a significant impact on the boards with nine rebounds. Amani Hansberry and Ben Hammond complemented their efforts by scoring 13 and 12 points respectively, with Hammond also dishing out five assists. Avdalas capped his performance with seven assists, showcasing his versatility.
Game Highlights
Despite a spirited start to the second half where Wake Forest cut the lead down to eight points, Virginia Tech captured momentum back with a pivotal run. Avdalas initiated a surge with a three-pointer, which was followed by consecutive threes from Hansberry and Jailen Bedford, extending the Hokies’ advantage to 61-45 with just over 11 minutes left in the contest. The Demon Deacons were unable to recover, trailing by no less than 16 points for the remainder of the game.
Christian Gurdak was another highlight for Virginia Tech, coming off the bench to score 10 points without missing a shot, connecting on all five of his field-goal attempts. A remarkable six players for the Hokies finished in double figures during the match.
Wake Forest’s Struggles
On the other end, Wake Forest’s performance fell short, with Juke Harris leading the way for the Demon Deacons with 16 points. Tre’Von Spillers contributed 12 points and seven rebounds, while Cooper Schwieger chipped in 10 points. As a team, Wake Forest struggled, shooting just 38% overall and managing to make only 6 of 30 from beyond the arc after starting the game strongly with four consecutive three-pointers.
Looking Ahead
This victory marked Virginia Tech’s biggest win in the ACC since February 2024. Looking ahead, Wake Forest will face Boston College next Tuesday, whereas Virginia Tech prepares to take on No. 16 North Carolina next Saturday.
