BLACKSBURG – Lynn Kidd scored a career-high 31 points on 14 of 15 shooting and Virginia Tech defeated American University 77-55 on Thursday for the Hokies' 20th straight nonconference home win at Cassell Coliseum.
The 6-foot-10 Kidd grabbed 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double this season. The Hokies (9-3), who won their fourth straight, shot 64%, and led by Kidd inside, outscored the Eagles 48-24 in the paint. Tech's 64% shooting was the sixth-best single-game percentage in the ACC era and the best since Tech shot 64% vs. Houston Baptist on Nov. 21, 2017.
MJ Collins scored 12 points off the bench. The Hokies were without point guard Sean Pedulla, who has been dealing with a foot injury, for the second time in three games. Brandon Rechsteiner filled in and had a career-high 11 assists.
American (5-7) was without leading scorer and rebounder, 6-9 Matt Rogers, for the first time this season because of an ankle injury. Seven-footer Jermaine Ballisager Webb got his first start and scored a career-high 15 points and had six rebounds. The Eagles shot 39% and gave up 15 points off turnovers.
Kidd scored five points in a 9-0 run to put Virginia Tech up 16 midway through the second half, and the lead remained in double figures.
Virginia Tech trailed only at 2-0 and led 37-29 at halftime behind Kidd's 16 points. Kidd became just the fourth VT men's basketball player to record at least 31 points, 11 rebounds and 14 field goals made in a single game and first since Dale Solomon notched the feat on Feb. 18, 1981 vs. Tulane in the Louisiana Superdome.
Virginia Tech travels to Wake Forest for an ACC game on Dec. 30. American is at UMBC on Dec. 29.
Gallery: (12-21-2023) MBB: American Game