Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG — Mylyjael Poteat and Brandon Rechsteiner both scored a career-high 19 points to propel Virginia Tech past USC Upstate 93-74 on Friday night inside Cassell Coliseum.
Freshman Tyler Johnson scored a season-high 16 points, Jaydon Young 14 (career high), and Tobi Lawal and Jaden Schutt 10 apiece for the Hokies (2-0).
Carmelo Adkins scored 20 points, freshman Mister Dean 18 and Karmani Gregory 15 for the Spartans (1-2).
Tech led 37-32 at halftime after erasing a 16-2 deficit to start the contest. The Hokies used an 11-5 start in the first 3:55 of the second half for a 48-37 lead.
With 12:58 left, USC Upstate's Daniel Helterhoff made a 3-pointer to reduce the Spartans' deficit to 56-50. But Young responded with a three, Rechsteiner made a layup and Poteat made two free throws for a 63-50 lead. The Hokies stayed ahead by double digits the rest of the way.
The Spartans opened the game outscoring Tech 16-2 over the first 6 1/2 minutes before the Hokies launched their comeback and led by five at halftime. Helterhoff's jumper with 2:06 before halftime marked the Spartans' last lead at 30-28.
Hitting 18 of their 30 attempts, the Hokies shot 60% in the second stanza en route to 56 of their 93 points. They finished with a 32-25 advantage on the glass.
Virginia Tech improves to 3-1 all-time against USC Upstate.