Hokies Have A Memorable Senior Night With A 82–63 win Over Wake Forest (2-21-26)
By: Joey Raymond
Headline Photo Credit: Virginia Tech Athletics
The Virginia Tech Hokies men’s basketball delivered a strong all-around performance on Senior Night, riding a balanced offensive attack and timely runs to pull away from the Wake Forest Demon Deacons men’s basketball for an 82–63 victory.
Virginia Tech set the tone early with Tobi Lawal striking first, and despite Wake Forest answering with a barrage of early three-pointers, the Hokies never lost their footing. Every Deacons push was met with a response, whether it was Ben Hammond attacking the rim, Amani Hansberry cleaning up inside, or Neo Avdalis providing a spark with his scoring and playmaking.
As the first half unfolded, the Hokies’ offense began to settle into rhythm. Hammond and Jailen Bedford knocked down perimeter shots, Bedford electrified the crowd with a powerful dunk, and Avdalis continued to stretch the defense with timely threes. Lawal added inside presence and physical finishes, helping Virginia Tech gradually widen the gap. By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, the Hokies had built a 43–33 advantage thanks to efficient scoring and control of the glass.
Wake Forest briefly tried to claw back into the game early in the second half, trading baskets and keeping the deficit manageable, but Virginia Tech soon delivered the decisive run. Hammond drilled a three, Avdalis followed with one of his own, and Hansberry connected from deep as well, forcing the Deacons to burn a timeout as the Hokies’ lead ballooned.
From there, Virginia Tech took complete control. Christian Gurdak became a force around the basket, scoring repeatedly on cuts, put-backs, and interior finishes. Avdalis orchestrated the offense with confidence, including a highlight pass that led to a thunderous Hansberry dunk, while Lawal continued to dominate the paint and energize the crowd with multiple emphatic finishes, including a late alley-oop that capped the night.
Wake Forest managed occasional scoring spurts at the line and from the perimeter, but the Hokies’ offense proved too consistent and too balanced. By the final minutes, Virginia Tech had stretched the margin beyond reach, sealing an 82–63 win that gave the home crowd a memorable Senior Night performance.
