Western Carolina Catamounts at Virginia Tech Hokies
· NCAA Men's Basketball
Avdalas scores 30 as Virginia Tech pushes past Western Carolina 96-74
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.
Western Carolina travels to Georgia on Dec. 18.
How can I watch Western Carolina vs. Virginia Tech?
Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:00 | End of Game | 74 - 96 |
| 2nd 0:00 | End of 2nd half | 74 - 96 |
| 2nd 0:11 | Justin Johnson Turnover. | 74 - 96 |
| 2nd 0:19 | Jaden Schutt made Jumper. | 74 - 96 |
| 2nd 0:25 | Christian Gurdak Offensive Rebound. | 74 - 94 |
Statistics
 WCU |
 VT |
|
|---|---|---|
| 24-57 | FG | 34-64 |
| 42 | Field Goal % | 53 |
| 8-20 | 3PT | 13-27 |
| 40 | Three Point % | 48 |
| 18-30 | FT | 15-23 |
| 60 | Free Throw % | 65 |
| 34 | Rebounds | 36 |
| 15 | Offensive Rebounds | 11 |
| 19 | Defensive Rebounds | 25 |
| 12 | Assists | 15 |
| 7 | Steals | 8 |
| 1 | Blocks | 8 |
| 14 | Turnovers | 11 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 14 | Total Turnovers | 11 |
| 1 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 1 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 11 | Points Off Turnovers | 9 |
| 0 | Fast Break Points | 6 |
| 26 | Points in Paint | 36 |
| 20 | Fouls | 22 |
| 0 | Largest Lead | 25 |
| 0 | Lead Changes | 0 |
| 0 | Lead Percentage | 98 |
Game Information
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Attendance: 4,288 | Capacity:
2025-26 Southern Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Tennessee State | 0-0 | - | 8-3 |
| Mercer | 0-0 | - | 7-3 |
| Furman | 0-0 | - | 7-4 |
| Wofford | 0-0 | - | 6-4 |
| Samford | 0-0 | - | 6-6 |
| Chattanooga | 0-0 | - | 5-6 |
| VMI | 0-0 | - | 5-7 |
| Western Carolina | 0-0 | - | 4-6 |
| The Citadel | 0-0 | - | 3-8 |
| UNC Greensboro | 0-0 | - | 3-8 |
2025-26 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 0-0 | - | 10-0 |
| California | 0-0 | - | 10-1 |
| Louisville | 0-0 | - | 9-1 |
| North Carolina | 0-0 | - | 9-1 |
| Virginia | 0-0 | - | 9-1 |
| Virginia Tech | 0-0 | - | 10-2 |
| Miami | 0-0 | - | 9-2 |
| SMU | 0-0 | - | 9-2 |
| Stanford | 0-0 | - | 8-2 |
| Notre Dame | 0-0 | - | 9-3 |
| Clemson | 0-0 | - | 8-3 |
| Wake Forest | 0-0 | - | 8-3 |
| NC State | 0-0 | - | 7-4 |
| Georgia Tech | 0-0 | - | 6-4 |
| Syracuse | 0-0 | - | 6-4 |
| Florida State | 0-0 | - | 5-5 |
| Boston College | 0-0 | - | 5-6 |
| Pittsburgh | 0-0 | - | 5-6 |