Hokies clamp down on defense in 58-52 victory over WinthropHokies clamp down on defense in 58-52 victory over Winthrop
Men's Basketball

Hokies clamp down on defense in 58-52 victory over Winthrop

Tech wins battle of the boards by 11 to improve to 3-0

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Box Score

BLACKSBURG — Jaden Schutt scored a career-high 17 points on 5 for 10 shooting from deep and Virginia Tech fought off a valiant effort by Winthrop for a 58-52 win over the Eagles Monday night inside Cassell Coliseum.

Tobi Lawal delivered his fifth career double-double and first as a Hokie, posting 10 points and 10 rebounds. Tyler Johnson also pulled down 10 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. Tech (3-0) won the battle of the boards 43-32 behind a season-best 16 offensive rebounds – the most since the Hokies reeled in 17 at Auburn last season.

Kelton Talford made two free throws with 7:47 remaining to pull Winthrop (2-1) into a tie at 42-all. The Hokies responded with an 8-0 spurt over the next three minutes with a basket by Patrick Wessler, a dunk and free throw from Lawal and a 3-pointer by Jaydon Young.

With 3:33 left, Young made another 3 to push the lead to 53-44, the Hokies' largest lead of the game. With 59 seconds left, K.J. Doucet made a 3 for Winthrop that punctuated its 8-2 outburst to reduce the deficit to 55-52.

Tech's Brandon Rechsteiner made two free throws, Lawal made 1 of 2 and Winthrop missed its last three shots to preserve the VT victory.

Kasen Harrison scored a game-high 19 points and Doucet 17 as the pair combined to make 15 of Winthrop's 20-made field goals.

Both teams struggled to shoot the ball, with Tech finishing at 33.3% (19-57) and Winthrop at 34.5% (20-58). The Hokies held the Eagles, who led the nation in free-throw attempts a season ago, to 7 of 13 from the foul line. Tech went 12 for 18 from the charity stripe.

Tech is 3-0 all-time against Winthrop. The two sides last played on Dec. 3, 2013 — an 81-63 home victory for the Hokies.

The Hokies have a 15-game win streak against current members of the Big South Conference. Monday’s game was the second of two straight contests against Big South foes. The Hokies are 39-4 all-time against its current members.

Tech is back in action Friday against Penn State (2-0) at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Md. The nonconference clash is a part of the Hall of Fame Series Baltimore doubleheader, which also features Virginia and Villanova that tips off at 5 p.m. ET.