BLACKSBURG – Kerry Blackshear Jr. scored a season-high 21 points to lift No. 10 Virginia Tech to an 81-66 victory over Notre Dame on Tuesday afternoon at Carilion Clinic Court in the ACC opener for both squads.
The win marked the seventh straight for the Hokies, who moved to 12-1 overall, 1-0 in league play. In addition, the Hokies won their ACC opener for the third time in head coach Buzz Williams' five seasons. Notre Dame fell to 10-4 overall, 0-1 in the ACC.
Blackshear made 9 of 18 from the floor, including a 3-pointer, and he also grabbed seven rebounds to pace the Hokies, who shot 60 percent from the floor and 61.1 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.
Ahmed Hill and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each scored 17 points and each hit 7 of 8 from the floor, with Hill hitting three 3-pointers and Alexander-Walker nailing a 3. Ty Outlaw scored 14 points, hitting 5 of 9, including four 3's.
Tech took control early and led for the final 35 minutes of the game. The Irish cut the lead to 43-42 on a 3-pointer by Nate Laszewski with 14:47 remaining, but Hill immediately answered with 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to push the lead to 49-42.
Those two 3's started a run in which Tech outscored Notre Dame 28-11 over the next nearly nine minutes. Hill and Outlaw ended that span for the Hokies, with Hill hitting back-to-back short jumpers and Outlaw finishing the run with a 3-pointer that gave the Hokies a 71-53 with 5:14 remaining – their biggest lead of the game.
T.J. Gibbs led Notre Dame with 19 points. The Irish shot just 41.1 percent from the floor, but made 13 3-pointers.
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QUOTES TO NOTE
Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams
(On his team's shooting 60 percent from the floor)
"I think what we do offensively is pretty good. I think the numbers bear that out … When you make shots, obviously it looks prettier, but the shots that we took today are the same shots offensively we always want to take. It doesn't necessarily mean we're going to make them at the clip that we did today, but it wasn't like we were running different plays."
(On Blackshear's performance)
"KJ is very effective when he is taking a shot toward the rim. I thought he was as good inside six feet as he's been in his career today, but I think that opened up even more dribble paint touches because of how effective he was."
Guard Ahmed Hill
(On hitting the two 3's after Notre Dame cut the lead to one in the second half)
"I saw that they went zone, and Nickeil skipped the ball. My man was down, and it was a far contest, so I just shot it. The other one, KJ kicked it out, and I knew I had just made one, so I shot it again. All thanks to God, but thanks to my teammates as well for finding me when I was open."
Forward Kerry Blackshear Jr.
(On facing bigger post players for the first time this season)
"I was pretty confident going into the game that I was going to have an opportunity to play someone my size, and I know those guys from back home [John Mooney, Nate Laszewski and Juwan Durham are from Florida]. They're pretty good skilled guys who can shoot and score with their back to the basket and are really solid defenders. So I was excited to play this one."
GAME NOTES
• The last time that the Hokies played a game ranked 10th or higher came in 1996.
• Tech's shooting percentage was its best against a Power 5 team this season.
• The Hokies have shot 50 percent or better in seven of 12 games this season.
• Tech has allowed just one opponent to shoot better than 50 percent in a game (Purdue, 50.8).
• The Hokies hit 11 3-pointers in the game and have hit at least 10 3-pointers in 10 of 13 games this season.
• Blackshear last scored at least 20 points in a game on Jan. 31, 2018 in the Hokies' 85-80 overtime win over BC.
• Robinson finished the game with eight assists, pushing his career total to 521. In the game, he moved into third place on the school's all-time list for career assists, passing former guard Jamon Gordon. Only school record holder Bimbo Coles and Malcolm Delaney have more assists than Robinson.
• Robinson has handed out at least six assists in nine of 12 games this season.
• Alexander-Walker has scored in double figures in all 12 games in which he has played this season. He missed the Hokies' win over Maryland Eastern Shore because of an ankle injury.
UP NEXT
The Hokies continue conference play Saturday when they take on Boston College at Carilion Clinic Court. The game tips off at noon.