Hokies get back in win column with 82-63 triumph over Wake on Senior Day

BLACKSBURG - Tobi Lawal started the scoring with a field goal and ended the game with dunks on what was his day inside Cassell Coliseum helping the Hokies to a much needed 82-63 victory over Wake Forest. The win snapped a two-game skid and brings the Hokies' record to 18-10 (7-8)

Early on it was Wake who was hitting shots from deep as the Deacons started 3-3 from beyond the arc leading to a 11-10 advantage at the first media timeout. But the visiotrs would go cold as after the fourth triple pf the afternoon also fell, they missed 14 straight as a squad, a drought that extended into the seocnd half.

Tech was efficient from the floor all game, resulting in their second conseuctive game shooting 50% or better. Forward Amani Hansberry started 3-3, and Neoklis Avdalas had eight of the Hokies' first 19 points pushing the Hokies to a lead.

The Hokies used a run of threes to extend their advantage, at one point having six consecutive field goals coming from beyond the arc, including Jailen Bedford's that led to a Steve Forbes timeout.

At the half, the Hokies held a 43-33 advantage.

In the second half, Wake cut the lead down to seven at one stage, but the Hokies answered every run and pushed the lead out to 18 with an 11-0 burst midway through the period. 

Freshman Christian Gurdak buoyed the team by scoring eight straight points.

Lawal, on his Senior Day, had a thunderous dunk with about 90 seconds to go that brought the crowd to its feet, and closed out the scoring from close range as he tied Avdalas for the game high in points with 17.

GAME NOTES
•The starters for Virginia Tech were Neoklis Avdalas, Ben Hammond, Jailen Bedford, Tobi Lawal and Amani Hansberry for the sixth straight game.
•Six athletes scored in double figures. Tech is 3-0 this season when six athletes score 10 or more points.
•Avdalas dished seven assists and had zero turnovers. For the week he had 15 helpers and just one mistep.

UP NEXT
The Hokies will enjoy an open date in midweek before heading to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina on Saturday, February 28 at 8:30 on ESPN2.