Hokie ClubNOTRE DAME, Ind. – Grant Basile tallied 33 points for the second straight game to lead the Virginia Tech men's basketball team over Notre Dame, 93-87, at Purcell Pavilion Saturday afternoon.
Basile added seven rebounds to his 33-point performance to lead the Hokies (15-10, 5-9 ACC). The graduate student connected on 13 of 19 (68.4%) from the hardwood. His 13 field goals made are a program record for an ACC game. Basile became the first Tech men's basketball player to eclipse 30 points in back-to-back games since Bryant Matthews in December of 2003. Basile is also the first Hokie to have at least three 30-point games in the same season since Erick Green had four during the 2012-13 season.
Stay Connected with Tech Men's Basketball
Justyn Mutts delivered another impressive stat line of 19 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, while Sean Pedulla chipped in 12 points and five assists.
The Virginia Tech offense was strong from downtown, making nine threes on 21 attempts. Basile hit three treys for the Hokies in the contest. Playing 140 miles from his hometown of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, Basile scored 16 of Tech's 18 points during a key second-half surge.
How It Happened
After falling behind 31-27, Virginia Tech went on a 10-0 run with 4:29 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from MJ Collins, to take a 37-31 lead. The Hokies took a 43-40 advantage into intermission following a Pedulla trey at the buzzer. Virginia Tech relied on its 3-point shooting in the period, knocking down seven shots to account for 21 of its 43 points.
Notre Dame took its last lead at 50-48 with 16:11 to go off a Marcus Hammond layup. The Hokies dug in and worked their way to a 67-63 edge with 9:38 remaining. From this point forward, Basile took over. He scored 16 of Tech's next 18 points to give the visitors their largest lead of the game (85-75). The Fighting Irish got no closer than four points the rest of the way.
Game Notes
» The Hokies shot well from 3-point range, knocking down 9 of 21 from beyond the arc.
» Grant Basile became the first Tech men's basketball player since Bryant Matthews (2003) to record back-to-back games of at least 30 points.
» Grant Basile set the program record for field goals made in an ACC game with 13. Nine players were previously tied for the record with 12.
» Virginia Tech had a 29-26 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Hokies turned the ball over five times, while dishing out 19 assists.
» Virginia Tech got a team-high eight rebounds from Justyn Mutts.
» The Hokies' 93 points were the most in an ACC win since a 91-75 decision at Boston College on Feb. 25, 2017.
» Virginia Tech registered its first road win of the season, marking the latest road win in a season since Feb. 13, 2002 (at West Virginia).
» Notre Dame's Nate Laszewski finished with a career-high 33 points on 12 of 17 shooting to lead the Fighting Irish.
» The last time a VT and opposing player scored 30-plus points: 62 – Feb 3, 2021 – Pitt's Xavier Johnson (32) and Tech's Keve Aluma (30)
» The last time a VT and opposing player combined for at least 66 points: 79 pts – March 18, 2009 – Duquesne's Aaron Jackson (46) and Tech's A.D. Vassallo (33)
Up Next at Home
Following a trip to Georgia Tech on Wednesday, Feb. 15, Tech will play host to Pitt on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. ET. The game is sold out, but fans can purchase tickets to the contest on StubHub, the official secondary marketplace of Virginia Tech Athletics.
Gallery: (2-11-2023) MBB: at Notre Dame