Virginia Tech 87, Presbyterian 65: Freshman Ahmed Hill scored a career-high 18 points as the Hokies hit their season scoring high for the second straight game in a rout of the visiting Blue Hose.
Freshman Jalen Hudson also hit a career high with 15 points off the bench for Virginia Tech (8-4), which had five players score in double figures in its fourth straight victory. The Hokies, who also received 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds from Adam Smith and 13 points apiece from Justin Bibbs and Joey van Zegeren, shot 53.6 percent from the field, including 8-of-15 from 3-point range.
Jordan Downing scored a game-high 19 points but made only 6-of-22 shots for Presbyterian (4-9), which has yet to beat a Division I foe this season. Markus Terry added 12 points and William Truss had nine and a game-high 13 rebounds before fouling out for the Blue Hose.
The game was tied 6-6 a little more than 5 1/2 minutes into the contest, but Virginia Tech took over inside to reel off 10-1 and 17-9 runs en route to a 45-27 lead. The Hokies, however, were unable to close the half on a high note as Presbyterian took advantage of two late turnovers to score the final five points before halftime.
After trailing 45-32 at the break, the Blue Hose trimmed the deficit to 55-45 on Ruben Arroyo-Felix’s jumper with a little more than 14 minutes to play, but Virginia Tech responded with a 20-7 run over the ensuing nine minutes to expand its advantage to 75-52. Presbyterian, with leading scorers Downing and Truss forced to sit with four fouls apiece for much of the Hokies’ run, only got as close as 19 points during the final five minutes.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Virginia Tech, which was shooting only 56.6 percent at the free-throw line through its first nine games, has hit 67.1 percent from the stripe over the last three contests after a 19-of-27 showing Saturday. … The Hokies, one of the nation’s top-20 3-point shooting teams, have hit 12-of-22 over the last two games. … The Hokies improved to 47-6 against the current members of the Big South Conference, while Presbyterian fell to 1-13 against ACC foes.
Presbyterian | Virginia Tech | |
Jordan Downing 19 | Scoring | Ahmed Hill 18 |
Davon Bell 4 | Assists | Devin Wilson 5 |
William Truss 13 | Rebounds | Adam Smith 7 |
Jordan Downing 4 | Free Throws Made | Ahmed Hill 8 |
Ruben Arroyo 1 | Steals | Joey Van Zegeren 2 |
Ed Drew 1 | Blocks | Shane Henry 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Presbyterian | 65 | 41.7 | 4-15 | 11-22 | 7 | 29 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
Virginia Tech | 87 | 53.6 | 8-15 | 19-27 | 14 | 34 | 4 | 4 | 13 |