Sport
Buy Tickets
A basketball player in an orange uniform points toward the basket while dribbling during a game.A basketball player in an orange uniform points toward the basket while dribbling during a game.
Men's Basketball

Hansberry's career night powers Hokies past Mercer 96-67

Senior forward posts 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting

Opens in a new window Purchase Mount St. Mary's Tickets Opens in a new window Invest to Win Stay Connected Postgame Notes Opens in a new window Pledge Per
Box Score

BLACKSBURG - After an opening night win over Coppin State Tuesday, the Virginia Tech men's basketball team moved to 2-0 Thursday with a 96-67 victory over visiting Mercer. Forward Amani Hansberry led all scorers with 23, setting a career-high and he was joined in double figures by Ben Hammond (16), Jaylen Curry (14) and Isaiah Elohim (11).  

Tech scored the first few baskets of the night through Hansberry and Curry, establishing a lead the Hokies would never surrender. The first half featured a quick pace as the Hokies got into passing lanes and got out in transition with Hammond continuing to pester opponents. The Hokies used a big run, 13-0 to extend the lead to 18 around the 8-minute mark and then after a Bears free throw, scored the game's next eight points after Solomon Davis converted from the free throw line and Butta Johnson hit a 3-pointer.

At the break, the Hokies led 47-26.

The second half featured a lot of stoppages as both squads were in foul trouble, which led to 53 total free throw attempts in the game.

Once the Hokies settled in, Hansberry got to work, scoring from multiple levels as the 6-foot-8 forward connected in the pain and also stepped out for a triple. Tech got contributions off the bench from Tyler Johnson who had a game-high nine rebounds, including four on the offensive end, Davis' five points, Miles Heide added six and Sin'Cere Jones added four.

GAME NOTES
•Ben Hammond recorded five steals against the Bears. Combined with his seven steals on opening night, it marks the fifth time in program history that a VT athlete posts five or more steals in consecutive games. The other athletes to achieve the feat are Zabian Dowdell, Rod Wheeler and Dell Curry (twice).
•Tech posted an assist to turnover ratio of 4.0.
•All 15 athletes on the Hokies' roster participated in the game.

UP NEXT
•The Hokies will travel to Sioux City, Iowa for their next contest against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Tuesday, Nov. 10 with tipoff set for 7 p.m. ET on FS1.
•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.