BLACKSBURG – An impressive offensive performance – highlighted by 30 points from Grant Basile – powered Virginia Tech to a 95-57 win over Delaware State on Monday night inside Cassell Coliseum.
The Hokies had three players score in double figures, including Basile, who put together a double-double with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Sean Pedulla added 18 points and eight assists and Darius Maddox chipped in as well with 14 points. Basile's 30 points were the most in a Tech debut since Landers Nolley II dialed up 30 at Clemson in Mike Young's first game at the helm of the Hokies.
The Virginia Tech offense was impressive from downtown, pouring in 14 threes on 28 attempts. Basile hit six treys for the Hokies in the contest.
Virginia Tech's defense held Delaware State to only 38.7% shooting from the field, including 25% from beyond the arc. The Hornets didn't have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with seven offensive rebounds and managed 15 second-chance points while Virginia Tech cleared 31 defensive rebounds.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 20-14 advantage, Tech went on a 9-0 run with 11:52 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from MJ Collins, to increase its lead to 29-14. The Hokies then added 10 points to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 56-31 advantage. Tech relied on its 3-point shooting in the period, knocking down 10 shots to account for 30 of its 56 points.
Following intermission, Tech kept widening that lead, expanding it to 72-40 before going on an 8-0 run to grow the lead to 80-40 with 10:39 to go in the contest. The Hornets narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Hokies still cruised the rest of the way for the 95-57 win. Virginia Tech capitalized on eight Delaware State turnovers in the period, collecting 11 points off those turnovers
Game Notes
» Grant Basile notched an impressive double-double for the Hokies with 30 points and 10 rebounds.
» Sean Pedulla, Darius Maddox and Lynn Kidd made their first career starts on Monday night.
» The Hokies' 95 points were the most by Tech in a season opener since 2017 (111).
» Virginia Tech had an plus-18 rebounding margin, which is the largest margin since Dec. 3, 2020 against VMI (18).
» The Hokies reached 50% from deep – a threshold that Tech met five times last season.
» Virginia Tech took the lead with 17:14 in the first half and held that advantage for the rest of the game.
» Grant Basile hit six threes and Sean Pedulla knocked down five more. The last time the Hokies had two players make more than five 3-point attempts in one game was on Jan. 29 at Florida State.
» Grant Basile and Lynn Kidd led Virginia Tech with a game-high 10 rebounds apiece.
» The Hokies finished with 11 offensive rebounds on the night, converting those into 16 second-chance points.
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Gallery: (11-7-2022) MBB: Delaware State Game