Virginia Tech men’s basketball achieved a thrilling victory over California, winning 78-75 and improving their season record to 13-4 (2-2 in ACC) with a combination of strong offensive tactics and intense defensive pressure.
The game began with California surging ahead, taking a commanding 26-14 lead fueled by a 14-0 scoring run. However, the Hokies swiftly countered with an 11-0 run of their own, initiated by consecutive three-point plays from Neoklis Avdalas and Ben Hammond, allowing them to tie the game before halftime.
California’s Dai Dai Ames showcased his scoring ability on the night, finishing with 21 points, which helped the Bears maintain a narrow lead for a significant portion of the game. Nevertheless, Avdalas’ layup gave the Hokies the edge, and they managed to hold on to the lead for the remainder of the match.
Notably, six players from Virginia Tech reached double-digit scoring, led by Amani Hansberry with 15 points, followed by Jailen Bedford with 13, Christian Gurdak with 12, and both Avdalas and Jaden Schutt contributing 11 each. Freshman Tobi Lawal added 10 points to the total. The Hokies excelled from the free throw line, achieving their best performance of the season by converting 27 of 31 attempts at an impressive rate of 87.1%. Additionally, Virginia Tech capitalized on turnovers, securing 23 points from them, compared to California’s 10.
Jaden Schutt continued his streak, hitting a three-pointer in every game of the season after making one early in the first half.
Looking ahead, Virginia Tech is set to face SMU on Wednesday, January 14, with game time scheduled for 9 p.m. ET, broadcasted on ACCN. This match presents another opportunity for the Hokies to build on their momentum and improve their standings in the conference.