The Hokies Improved To 14–5 Overall, Defeating ACC Foe Notre Dame (1-17-26)

By: Joey Raymond 

Headline Photo Credit: Brent Butler-LMS Network

Blacksburg, VA –Virginia Tech came out firing and never looked back, pulling away for an impressive 89–76 victory over Notre Dame that was fueled by a balanced offensive attack and tough, opportunistic defense. The Hokies shot a strong 51% from the field, knocked down 35% from three, and punished the Irish at the line, going 28-for-32 on free throws — a huge edge in a physical ACC battle.

Christian Gurdak set the tone early with a layup, and while Notre Dame answered right away, Tech quickly swung momentum when Jailen Bedford drained a three. Logan Imes answered for the Irish with a tough bucket through contact, though he missed the free throw, but Notre Dame’s early charge was short-lived. After Sir Mohammed’s deep ball put the Irish up, Ben Hammond’s timely three put the Hokies back on top at 8–7, and they never surrendered control.

Amani Hansberry continued Virginia Tech’s hot start, finishing aggressive drives to the rim as the Hokies built momentum. Tobi Lawal was a force on both ends, getting into the paint for scores and drawing fouls that led to free throws — part of his 22 points and 11 rebounds, his fourth double-double of the season.

Tech’s defense was the real catalyst early, forcing Notre Dame into turnovers and turning stops into points. Hansberry added a steal that led to a Hammond finish at the rim, and by the time the first half rolled around, the Hokies had taken a commanding lead, thanks to balanced scoring and efficient shooting that put them up 45–34 at the break.

Bedford (14 points), Hammond (16), Lawal, and Hansberry (21 points) all contributed in a variety of ways — closing the half with layups, threes, and free throws to keep Notre Dame at arm’s length. Notre Dame tried to stay within striking distance with buckets from Cole Certa and Braeden Shrewsberry, but Virginia Tech responded each time with answers of their own.

When the second half began, the Hokies picked up right where they left off. They forced a turnover on the opening possession that led to another Bedford three, maintaining rhythm and keeping Notre Dame on its heels. Hansberry steadied the offense at the free-throw line and powered through contact for tough buckets, while Neoklis Avdalis buried a contested triple to push the margin.

Lawal continued to punish mismatches inside, and despite a brief stoppage that saw Avdalis tend to on the bench, the Hokies kept Notre Dame at bay. Bedford’s transition layup after a takeaway extended the lead to 68–48, punctuating a stretch where Tech’s defense translated directly into offense.

The Irish kept fighting, trimming the lead with free throws and second-chance opportunities, and Brady Koehler caught fire from deep for Notre Dame. But Virginia Tech’s composure was evident; Gurdak and Bedford knocked down tough buckets and Hansberry continued to make his presence felt at the line.

Late in the game, Notre Dame got as close as 79–66 with about four minutes left, but Hammond answered with a key three, and Hansberry finished a layup to maintain a comfortable lead. With the clock winding down, Bedford electrified the Cassell Coliseum crowd with a thunderous dunk off a slick feed, bringing the crowd to its feet as the Hokies closed the door.

In the end, Virginia Tech controlled the game from start to finish, led by balanced scoring (four players in double figures) and a free-throw advantage that Notre Dame couldn’t match. The Hokies improved to 14–5 overall and 3–3 in ACC play, while the Irish dropped to 10–8 and 1–4 in conference action.

Virginia Tech’s ability to convert turnovers into points, defend aggressively, and share the ball played a major role in the win — and with a versatile offensive group firing on all cylinders, the Hokies left no doubt they deserve respect in this early portion of ACC play.