BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — Virginia Tech survived a major scare from Elon to escape with an 82-81 overtime victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies, who trailed by eight at halftime, needed a late push to force overtime, where they outscored the Phoenix 10-9. Amani Hansberry led Virginia Tech with 20 points. Christian Gurdak added 17 points. Elon’s Chandler Cuthrell scored a team-high 18 points, and Isaac Harrell added 16. The Phoenix shot 10 for 30 from 3-point range but were hampered by 15 turnovers. Virginia Tech improved to 11-2, while Elon fell to 7-5. Attendance was 4,380.

BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit and a refusal to yield, the Elon Phoenix took the Virginia Tech Hokies to the absolute limit before falling 82-81 in overtime on Saturday afternoon at a tense Cassell Coliseum. The contest, a nonconference clash played before 4,380 fans, saw the visiting Phoenix erase a double-digit second-half deficit, force overtime with a dramatic final sequence in regulation, and ultimately come up one possession short against a Hokies squad that improved to 11-2. Elon left with a hard-fought 7-5 record. The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final 30 seconds of regulation, with Virginia Tech clinging to a 72-70 lead. Elon’s Chandler Cuthrell, who finished with 18 points, drove and scored a tough layup with seven seconds remaining to tie the game. On the ensuing inbounds play, Virginia Tech’s Izaiah Pasha turned the ball over under pressure from Elon’s Bryson Cokley. With a chance to win, Elon advanced the ball and called timeout with three seconds left. Out of the stoppage, the inbounds pass found forward Kacper Klaczek near the top of the key. His contested jump shot as time expired missed, sending the game to an extra period tied at 72. The overtime period was a tense, back-and-forth affair featuring five lead changes. Elon struck first with two Cokley free throws, but Virginia Tech’s Christian Gurdak answered with two of his own. Amani Hansberry, who led all scorers with 20 points for Virginia Tech, gave the Hokies a 76-74 lead with a layup at the 3:33 mark, only for Cuthrell to tie it again on the next possession. With 1:58 left, Ben Hammond’s layup put Virginia Tech back up 78-76. Cuthrell again responded for Elon, knotting the score at 78. After a defensive stop, Elon had a chance to take the lead, but Cuthrell’s shot in the lane was blocked by Sin’Cere Jones with 49 seconds left. Hammond was fouled and made both free throws for an 80-78 Hokies edge. Elon’s DeMarco Johnson, who tallied six points and a game-high six assists, drove for a clutch layup to tie the game at 80 with 25 seconds remaining in overtime. Virginia Tech held for the final shot. Hammond drove the lane and dished to a cutting Gurdak, who finished a decisive layup with 10 seconds left for an 82-80 lead. Elon’s final attempt, a three-pointer from Cokley as time expired, was off the mark. The game’s narrative was one of contrasting styles. Elon, fueled by a blistering start, built an early 16-6 lead behind the hot shooting of Isaac Harrell, who hit two quick three-pointers on his way to 16 points. The Phoenix led 43-35 at halftime, shooting confidently from deep and controlling the pace. Virginia Tech methodically chipped away in the second half, leveraging its size and aggressiveness. The Hokies attacked the paint relentlessly, earning 29 free throw attempts to Elon’s 11, and made 20 of them. Their defense also tightened, forcing 15 Elon turnovers which led to 16 points. Hansberry was a constant force inside for Virginia Tech, complemented by 17 points from Gurdak and 15 from Hammond, who played 43 minutes. For Elon, the frontcourt duo of Cuthrell and Harrell combined for 34 points, while Klaczek added 11 points, three assists and two blocks. Statistically, the game was remarkably even. Elon shot 47% from the field to Virginia Tech’s 48.3%. The Phoenix won the battle in the paint 42-40 and made 10 three-pointers to Virginia Tech’s four. However, the disparity at the foul line and Virginia Tech’s slight edges in assists, steals, and turnovers proved to be the narrow difference. The loss snaps a two-game winning streak for Elon, which had beaten Richmond and Northern Illinois in its last two outings. Virginia Tech has now won three straight as it prepares to enter Atlantic Coast Conference play. Elon next hosts Greensboro on Monday. Virginia Tech is off until New Year’s Eve when it hosts Virginia in its ACC opener.

Preview: Elon Visits No. -- Virginia Tech in Nonconference Finale BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — The Virginia Tech Hokies, riding high with one of the nation’s top records, will look to close their nonconference schedule strong when they host the Elon Phoenix on Saturday at Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies (10-2) have won five of their last six, including an 82-53 rout of Maryland-Eastern Shore on Dec. 14. Their potent offense is averaging 81.2 points per game, fueled by the dynamic play of guard Neoklis Avdalas. The sophomore is coming off a 16-point, 7-assist performance and scored a season-high 30 points in a win over Western Carolina on Dec. 11. “Neo’s pace and decision-making have been excellent,“ Virginia Tech coach Mike Young said. “He’s setting the tone for us on both ends.“ Elon (7-4) arrives with momentum of its own, having won three straight, including a 73-70 victory over Richmond on Wednesday. The Phoenix are led by guard Kacper Klaczek, who scored 16 points in the win over the Spiders and poured in 23 points in a victory over Northern Illinois on Dec. 13. “Kacper is playing with great confidence right now,“ Elon coach Billy Taylor said. “He’s attacking, making shots, and making plays for others. We’ll need that kind of poise in a tough environment.“ This matchup presents a stark contrast in competition level. Virginia Tech’s two losses came against NCAA tournament-caliber teams in VCU and Saint Mary’s, and its resume includes a road overtime win at South Carolina. Elon’s wins have largely come against mid-major opposition, with a 99-72 loss at Miami (Fla.) highlighting the challenge against high-major athleticism. The Hokies’ depth will be tested, as they look to contain Klaczek and Elon’s backcourt while exploiting their size advantage inside. For the Phoenix, handling Virginia Tech’s defensive pressure and slowing Avdalas in transition will be critical to keeping the game competitive. This game marks the final tune-up for both teams before conference play begins in earnest. Virginia Tech opens its Atlantic Coast Conference slate against Virginia on Dec. 31, while Elon begins Colonial Athletic Association play on Jan. 8. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. EST Saturday. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.