The Hokies Battle Back To Beat Clemson (1-22-26)
By: Joey Raymond
Headline Photo Credit: Brent Butler-LMS Network
Blacksburg, VA — Virginia Tech leaned on its history, its heart, and its stars in a thrilling comeback that saw the Hokies rally late to topple Clemson, 71–68, inside a raucous Cassell Coliseum Thursday night. Despite trailing by as many as 13 points, Virginia Tech closed the game on an 11–0 run — its largest comeback since the iconic 63–62 victory over No. 3 NC State in January 2024 — and extended its streak to seven straight home wins against the Tigers.
The first half was anything but smooth for the Hokies. Clemson jumped out early, with Raven Thompson and Taylor Johnson-Matthews pushing the Tigers out to a double-digit advantage before halftime. The Tigers led 39–33 at the break, riding an offensive surge that kept Tech off balance for much of the second quarter. But Virginia Tech — refused to fold.
Out of the locker room, the Hokies began clawing back. Carys Baker and Carleigh Wenzel — who each finished with 24 points— led the charge, finding open looks and aggressive finishes that slowly trimmed the deficit. Tech’s defense tightened, turnovers turned into transition baskets, and by the time the fourth quarter arrived, the tone had shifted in favor of the Maroon and Orange.
With just over two minutes to play and Clemson clinging to a 68–60 lead, the momentum that had haunted the Hokies all night suddenly flipped. Wenzel hit a pair of clutch free throws, Baker followed with her own from the line, and Samyha Suffren delivered the biggest three-pointer of her career to pull Tech within one. Every stop, every loose ball, and every point from that point forward fueled the comeback that had been building all night.
The go-ahead basket came from Baker with 11.2 seconds left, a beautiful floater in the paint that put Virginia Tech up for the first time since earlier in the second half.
After Clemson turned the ball over on the ensuing possession, Wenzel calmly knocked down both free throws with 1.9 seconds left to ice the win.
While the late dramatics grabbed the headlines, the box score told a deeper story of balance and effort. Tech forced 20 turnovers, out-scored Clemson 28–8 in points off turnovers, and matched its season-high with 23 made free throws — a testament to its physical presence and relentless pursuit on both ends. Baker’s career-high night at the line (8-of-9) and Wenzel’s efficient scoring (8 field goals made) highlighted a group that refuses to fold.
For Clemson, Taylor Johnson-Matthews finished with a game-high 20 points, supported by strong scoring from Raven Thompson (16) and Mia Moore (12), but it wasn’t enough to withstand the Hokies’ late surge.
The win improved Virginia Tech to 15–5 overall and 5–3 in ACC play, giving the Hokies a vital boost as league play deepens and setting up a critical road test at Wake Forest this Sunday.
