Hokie ClubSIOUX CITY, Iowa. — The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team earned a 93-88 overtime victory against Iowa to improve to 3-0 Tuesday. Guard Ben Hammond led the team in scoring with a career high 32 points, along with 25 points from Jaylen Curry who hit a career milestone 1,000 points. Amani Hansberry (16) and Isaiah Elohim (12) also reached double-digit points for the Hokies.
Virginia Tech got the offense going quickly, making four of their first five shots. The Hokies found offense in transition, scoring four of their first nine points on fast breaks. The speed made the slow-paced Iowa offense uncomfortable, struggling to find baskets outside of the painted area. Tech forced seven Hawkeye turnovers in the first eight minutes to get out to an early 8-point lead.
The Hokies continued to flow as Elohim hit a strong mid-range jumpshot through a foul at the 8:22 mark, giving the offense energy with the and-one score. The scoring started to go back-and-forth as foul trouble plagued the Virginia Tech defense, allowing Iowa to reach the double bonus at the 7:14 mark. Both defenses found an identity coming down the stretch in physicality. The Hokies continued to play through contact, with Hansberry hitting a falling mid-range shot at the 3:03 mark.
The Hawkeyes slowed the game down towards the end of the first half, getting their offense set and running plays to score. The change of pace garnered an 11-2 Iowa run just before the halftime break. Off of a Virginia Tech timeout at just under a minute to play, Hammond got right to the basket for a layup to set up a two-for-one. Iowa responded with a late score before Hammond stretched the floor in the half’s final seconds, hitting a three-pointer to give the Hokies a one-point lead. His 15 first-half points on 5-9 shooting led the way for Tech.
The Hokies started the second half 4-5 at the line on their first two possessions, capitalizing on the continued physicality of the Hawkeye defense. Curry found offensive success coming out of halftime with seven of the first 13 points for Tech. Ball movement for the Hokies provided scoring and forced the Iowa defense to foul in an attempt to limit it. Hammond got through contact on a mid-range score at the 10:08 mark, finishing the and-one play as he continued to find ways to score.
Paint scoring opened the floor for the Hawkeyes, turning to their post matchups to capitalize on Tech foul trouble. The Hokies continued to move the ball and find shots from cutting, opening up the outside scoring for Hammond on a three-pointer at the 4:42 mark to tie the game.
Hammond notched a career high with his 32nd point with just under two minutes to play and gave Tech a one-point lead. The Hawkeyes answered back with a three-pointer from Sage before a Curry layup for the Hokies to tie the game late at 78-78, followed by a missed three-pointer from Iowa. The Hawkeyes’ Manyawu committed a foul on Curry, giving him late free throws that gave Tech a one-point lead. With 1.4 seconds to go, Iowa’s Ty’Reek Coleman went one of two from the free throw line to send the game to overtime. Hammond fouled out before the beginning of the overtime period following his foul on Coleman.
Overtime was a fast-paced transition battle for both teams. Curry sparked the Hokie offense in the extra period with the first five points, including a huge three-pointer. Elohim was fouled on an offensive rebound attempt and provided two late free throws that extended Tech's lead. Trailing by four, Iowa’s Coleman converted on a successful and-one play following an offensive rebound. Late free throws from Butta Jonhson put the Hokies up three points, and a late equalizer attempt from Koch was no match. Virginia Tech prevailed in an overtime win, 93-88.
GAME NOTES
•The starters for the Hokies were Jaylen Curry, Ben Hammond, Isaiah Elohim, Amani Hansberry and Miles Heide.
•Hammond career-high 32 points.
•Curry hits 1,000 career points with 25 in the game.
•Nine ties and seven lead changes between the two teams.
UP NEXT
•Tech is back on Carilion Clinic Court on Friday, Nov. 13 against Mount St. Mary's on Salute to Service night. That game will tip at 7 p.m. ET and can be seen on ACCNX.