The Virginia Tech Hokies improved to 3-0 on Tuesday night with an impressive 93-88 overtime win over the Iowa Hawkeyes. It was a neutral-site game, played in Sioux City, Iowa, but it felt like a home game for the Hawkeyes.
It was an exciting first half, with the Hokies controlling much of it, but the Hawkeyes went on a late run to take the lead. Junior point guard Ben Hammond responded with seven straight points before halftime to put Tech up 41-40. Hammond finished with 15 points in the first half, with senior
forward Amani Hansberry adding 12.
Fouls were the theme of this game, specifically in the first half. Virginia Tech picked up 15 fouls, sending the Hawkeyes to the free-throw line 21 times and making 14. Iowa also had foul issues, as it was called for 12 in the first half. The Hokies made 7 of 10 from the line. Both teams shot well from the floor, making over 50% of their shots. Virginia Tech struggled to defend 6-foot-8 forward Cooper Koch, who scored 14 in the first half—he entered the game having scored just 15 combined in Iowa’s first two games.
The officiating apparently got to Mike Young, too, who was called for his first technical foul in two years.
The Hokies opened the second half hot, but Iowa kept attacking the rim and getting to the charity stripe. Koch lived around the rim, going to the line 17 times and making 15, en route to a career-high 26 points.
Due to the fouls, both teams entered the double bonus early in the second half. It looked like the Hawkeyes had finally worn down the Hokies and opened a 5-point lead, but every time Iowa seemed to be on a run, Tech had a response. Hammond was everywhere, scoring 17 in the second half to finish with a new career-high of 32 points. It was tight late, but it appeared like things might go VT’s way.
With under 10 seconds remaining, senior guard Jaylen Curry launched a 3-pointer from the left wing, but he missed it. However, he was fouled on the play with around six seconds remaining. That meant three free throws. He missed the first two before making the last one, giving Tech an 80-79 lead. Iowa put the ball in the hands of speedy guard Ty’Reek Coleman, who took it the length of the floor and pulled up for a jumper from around 15 feet, but missed. However, Hammond fouled him with under two seconds left. It was Hammond’s fifth foul. Coleman made the first, but missed the second. We are headed to overtime, but the Hokies will have to do it without Hammond.
The Hokies scored the first bucket of overtime and never looked back. Curry was clutch for the Hokies in the second half and overtime, finishing with 25 points. Hansberry finished with 16 points. Junior guard Isaiah Elohim added 12 for the Hokies.
Iowa would attempt 47 free throws, making 31 (66%). Virginia Tech had fewer attempts (33) but made 26 (79%). Graduate senior guard Butta Johnson drilled two free throws late in overtime to put the Hokies back up by 3, and the defense held, preserving the win.
The Hokies shot 54% from the field, making 7 of 18 (39%) from 3-point range. Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes shot 50% from the field, including 5-of-17 (29%) from beyond the arc.
One potential area of concern coming out of this one: Iowa outrebounded Tech 40-26.
Make no mistake, this is a huge win for the Hokies. These are the wins that matter come March. Iowa is a good program. If the Hokies can keep this roster healthy, Young has a good team. The big three of Hammond, Hansberry and Curry, combined with versatile wing Tyler Johnson, give the Hokies an experienced and talented team that can compete with anyone.
Next up: a home date against Mount St. Mary’s on Friday, followed by a matchup with Richmond on Monday.
