BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — Virginia Tech cruised to a 96-74 victory over Western Carolina in a nonconference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies built a commanding 53-34 lead by halftime and maintained control throughout the second half before an announced crowd of 4,288. The win improved Virginia Tech’s record to 9-2, while Western Carolina fell to 4-6. The Hokies’ offense proved efficient, shooting over 50% from the floor and from three-point range. The Catamounts were led by Fischer Brown, but could not overcome the early deficit. Virginia Tech covered the pregame spread as the heavy favorite.

BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — Neoklis Avdalas scored 30 points and Virginia Tech used a dominant first half to cruise past Western Carolina 96-74 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies, improving to 9-2, built a 19-point halftime lead behind a blistering offensive display and never let the Catamounts (4-6) within striking distance in the second half. Virginia Tech shot 53% from the field and 48% from 3-point range for the game, while Western Carolina struggled with consistency, shooting 42% overall and missing 12 free throws. The most important stretch of the game came early, as Virginia Tech established immediate control. After a sloppy start from both teams, the Hokies ignited a 12-0 run midway through the first half to turn a 10-7 lead into a 22-7 advantage. The surge was fueled by defensive pressure, which forced three Western Carolina turnovers in a two-minute span, and efficient scoring from Avdalas and Amani Hansberry. The Catamounts never recovered from the early deficit, as Virginia Tech continued to connect from deep, hitting eight first-half 3-pointers to take a 53-34 lead into the break. Avdalas, a 6-foot-8 guard from Greece, was the catalyst, hitting 5 of 10 from 3-point range and adding two assists and two blocks in 33 minutes. His performance marked a significant scoring surge after averaging just nine points over his previous three games. Hansberry provided strong support with 18 points and six assists. Tyler Johnson scored 13 points, Ben Hammond added 13 off the bench and Jaden Schutt chipped in 10 for a balanced Hokies attack that saw five players reach double figures. Western Carolina was led by Marcus Kell’s 22 points and Justin Johnson’s 15. Julien Soumaoro had nine points and four assists, but the Catamounts were hampered by 14 turnovers and an inability to slow Virginia Tech’s offensive rhythm, which posted an efficiency rating of 124.8 points per 100 possessions. Virginia Tech’s interior defense was also a factor, recording eight blocks and altering numerous other attempts. The Hokies outscored Western Carolina 42-26 in the paint and converted 11 Catamount turnovers into 15 points. The game drew an announced crowd of 4,288. Western Carolina heads to Georgia next Thursday. Virginia Tech hosts Maryland-Eastern Shore on Sunday.

Hokies Host Catamounts in Nonconference Finale BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — Virginia Tech looks to close its nonconference schedule on a high note when it hosts Western Carolina at Cassell Coliseum on Thursday. The Hokies (8-2) have won two straight, including an 86-83 overtime victory at South Carolina last Tuesday and a 73-62 home win over George Mason on Saturday. Forward Amani Hansberry has been instrumental, averaging 17.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists over his last three games. In the win over George Mason, he posted 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists. “We’re building some momentum, but we have to be sharper,“ Virginia Tech coach Mike Young said. “This is our last tune-up before the bulk of ACC play, and we need to clean some things up defensively.“ Western Carolina (4-5) arrives after a 78-67 loss at South Carolina Upstate on Saturday. The Catamounts have struggled on the road this season, with all five losses coming away from home, including defeats at Duke, Cincinnati and High Point. Guard Cord Stansberry leads Western Carolina, coming off an 11-point performance at Upstate. He scored a season-high 29 points in a win over UNC Asheville on Nov. 19 and is averaging 12.1 points per game. “Virginia Tech is a very physical, well-coached team from a major conference,“ Western Carolina coach Tim Craft said. “For us, it’s about competing for 40 minutes and being tougher with the basketball. We’ve shown we can play well; we need to do it consistently.“ The Hokies have dominated the paint this season, outrebounding opponents by an average of 6.2 per game. Western Carolina will counter with a pace that averages 79.2 points per game, though that number dips to 69.2 in their five losses. This is the first meeting between the programs since 2011, a 79-61 Virginia Tech victory. Virginia Tech will host Maryland-Eastern Shore on Sunday. Western Carolina travels to Georgia on Dec. 18.