BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) Neoklis Avdalas poured in 30 points to lead Virginia Tech Hokies past Western Carolina Catamounts 96-74 on Tuesday night, pushing the Hokies’ home start to 6-0.
Avdalas hit four 3s and repeatedly stopped Western Carolina’s pushes, including a pair of early second-half buckets that stretched Virginia Tech’s lead to 59-37. His jumper and free throw at 12:50 held the margin at 67-46, and he later buried a 3 with 5:36 left to make it 80-58.
Western Carolina (4-6) leaned on Marcus Kell’s 22 points, including 15 after halftime. Justin Johnson added 15 points and hit a key 3 at 12:19 that cut the deficit to 67-49 before the Hokies steadied again.
Tyler Johnson scored 13 for Virginia Tech (9-2) and knocked down a 3 with 10:41 remaining that reopened a 71-51 cushion. Amani Hansberry had 18 points, six assists and six rebounds.
Western Carolina shot just 42% and went 18 for 30 at the line. Samuel Dada added six points and seven rebounds, and Kell scored Western Carolina’s final field goal, a 3, with 2:59 left.
Ben Hammond’s free throws and Jaden Schutt’s jumper in the final minute closed out Virginia Tech’s 96-74 win.
Virginia Tech continues a five-game home stand against Maryland Eastern on Dec. 14.
Western Carolina travels to Georgia on Dec. 18.
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| TOP SCORERS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
23
 |
M. Kell F | 22PTS | 2REB | 1AST | |
|
17
 |
N. Avdalas G | 30PTS | 3REB | 2AST | |
| STARTERS | PTS | REB | AST | PF |
| M. Kell | 21 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| J. Soumaoro | 9 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| T. Dioumassi | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| A. Fanta Kabba | 5 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| C. Stansberry | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| BENCH | PTS | REB | AST | PF |
| J. Johnson | 16 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| C. Hyland | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Dada | 6 | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| T. Smith | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Pettway | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| F. Brown | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| C. McKey | – | – | – | – |
| V. Collins | – | – | – | – |
| D. Hollifield | – | – | – | – |
| M. Williams | – | – | – | – |
| T. DeRosa | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 74 | 29 | 12 | 20 |
| STARTERS | PTS | REB | AST | PF |
| N. Avdalas | 30 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| A. Hansberry | 18 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| T. Johnson | 13 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| A. Dorn | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| J. Bedford | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 |