Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 20 points and had four steals to lead No. 13 Virginia Tech to an 80-62 victory over North Carolina A&T in a nonconference game played Wednesday at Carilion Clinic Court.
Alexander-Walker scored 12 points in the second half for Tech, which overcame a somewhat sluggish first half to win its fifth straight game. The Hokies moved to 10-1 on the season, while the Aggies fell to 4-7.
Tech gradually pulled away after sputtering a bit in the first 20 minutes. Despite eight first-half turnovers, the Hokies took control midway through the half, getting a couple of Ahmed Hill 3-pointers during a 14-1 run to grab the lead for good. They also cranked up their defense during that stretch, holding the Aggies – who had won four of their past five games – without a field goal for nearly eight minutes.
The Aggies trailed by a dozen after Milik Gantz's 3-pointer with 15:51 remaining, but the Hokies used a 12-2 run to open a 68-43 lead with 8:38 left. Alexander-Walker and Hill capped the surge with 3's.
Alexander-Walker hit 8 of 14 from the floor, including a couple of 3-pointers, on a night when the Hokies shot 49.2 percent (30 of 61). Kerry Blackshear Jr. added 17 points and nine rebounds, while Justin Robinson had 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
The Hokies took care of things on defense as well, holding North Carolina A&T to 45.3 percent shooting (24 of 53) and forcing 14 turnovers.
Quavius Copeland paced the Aggies with 16 points, while Gantz finished with 14.
(12/19/2018) 2018 MEN'S BASKETBALL vs. NCA&T
QUOTES TO NOTE
Virginia Tech head coach Buzz Williams
(On being 10-1 heading into the holiday break)
"I think our group has matured at a higher rate than normal. I think that, through that maturity, there is distinct role definition that they understand. I think the work of our staff … has been as good as I've ever seen. Our entire staff. It's not just the coaches. Everyone is specific to a role, similar to our players, and as time as progressed, we've improved in that regard."
Virginia Tech forward Nickeil Alexander-Walker
(On Virginia Tech's defensive identity)
"It's going to take more of a group. It's going to be together," Alexander-Walker said, describing the team's identity on defense. "It's going to be all five. It's going to be a unit. It's kind of like synchronized swimming – everyone is doing the same thing at the same time, trying to move as the ball moves."
GAME NOTES
• Alexander-Walker has scored in double figures in all 11 games for the Hokies, and he has scored at least 20 in six of those. He is shooting 56 percent from the floor (70 of 125) and 46.5 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.
• Robinson had dished out at least six assists in seven games this season.
• Robinson's seven rebounds were a season high.
• Hill's seven rebounds were a season high.
• Tech finished with a season-high 42 rebounds. The Hokies' rebounding margin of plus-22 represents a season high as well, surpassing the previous high of 11 (S.C. State and Central Connecticut State).
• Only one Tech opponent has shot 50 percent against the Hokies this season (Northeastern).
• For the 10th time in 11 games, at least four Tech players scored in double figures.
UP NEXT
The Hokies return to the court on Dec. 28 when they play host to Maryland Eastern Shore. The game tips at 7 p.m.