Hokies’ Late-Game Miscues Lead to Brutal 77-76 Loss to SMU

Jailen Bedford’s 22-point outing was not enough for Virginia Tech as it took its third loss in its last five intraconference matchups.

The theme of conference play for the Hokies’ 2025-2026 season thus far has been simple: survive and advance. In all of its previous three contests against ACC opponents, Tech has finished within three points of its opponent in each game. What’s more, the Hokies’ first conference game of the season against Virginia went to triple overtime. 

Heading into Wednesday night’s matchup, the Hokies looked to move to above .500 in ACC play after picking up its second conference win in its most recent matchup against California. After faltering in winnable games against Wake Forest and Stanford, a big-time road win in the Lone Star State could be what the Hokies needed to get back to playing at an elite level.

The first half of Wednesday night’s contest was defined by back-and-forth surges from each team. Though Tech started out on the wrong side of a 21-12 score just under halfway through the half, the maroon & orange fought back to claim a 33-32 lead after a 21-11 run in roughly eight-and-a-half minutes. The Hokies and Mustangs held close until halftime, as the score was 39-38 in favor of SMU heading into the break.

Bedford led the Tech scoring in the first half against SMU, as the Austin, Texas native posted nine points in the half. Tobi Lawal – in his third game back from injury – trailed close behind Bedford with eight points in the half.

The Hokies came out of the half ready to score, as they jumped out to a 51-45 lead via a 7-0 run. Immediately after, Jaden Schutt would energize the Blacksburg squad after getting an and-one call on a made three-point dagger.

Though Tech maintained its lead for much of the second half, the Mustangs remained close behind. After a pair of free throws from SMU’s Boopie Miller, the Ponies narrowed the score to 73-72 with just under a minute left to play. It would seem as if the Hokies would fall short in yet another late-game situation.

However, Jaden Schutt would hit a critical three-pointer to expand the Hokies’ lead to 76-72 with 29 seconds left. SMU’s B.J. Edwards would make a layup to make the score 76-74 with five seconds left.

Per usual, missed free throws ended up killing the Hokies late in the contest. After four missed shots from the line from Amani Hansberry, Ben Hammond, and Lawal, the Mustangs were able to regain possession with two seconds left.

Then, just like the loss to Stanford, another miracle three-pointer made by the opponent’s leading scorer on the night swept the rug right out from under the Hokies, as Miller drained a last-second heave from beyond half court to give the Mustangs the 77-76 win.

Bedford closed out the night with 22 points, his second outing with over 20 points in Tech’s last four games. Schutt’s four three-pointers led him to a 15-point total on the night, the second highest for the Hokies. Hammond, Lawal, and Neoklis Avdalas closed out the Hokies’ double-digit scoring on the night, as the trio posted 11 points, 10 points, and 10 points, respectively.

The Hokies will return to Cassell Coliseum to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday, Jan. 17. The Irish currently sit at 10-7 on the 2025-2026 season, and they will be looking to come off a three-game losing streak against ACC opponents when they visit Blacksburg.

If there is a silver lining in all of this, it is that the Hokies are not centered around one particular player. Bedford’s outing against SMU proved that any Hokie can step up in any game, especially when Hansberry, the team’s leading scorer, has a rough game like he did Wednesday night.

What has clearly become the thorn in Tech’s side over its last few games, however, is the team’s ability to close out games. The team has lost by a total of five points among all three of in-conference play losses thus far, meaning all of those losses were by one score or less. 

Missed free throws killed the Hokies tonight; that fault cannot be the case moving forward if Tech wants any chance at making March Madness.