Hokies Return to Flight with Overtime Win Over South Carolina

With standout forward Tobi Lawal out yet again, the Hokies returned to the win column with their 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge victory.

After a somewhat demoralizing finish to the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament – where Virginia Tech dropped two of three contests – the Hokies aimed to bounce back to start a pivotal month of December. The first step came on the road Tuesday when Tech took on the Gamecocks in Columbia.

With Lawal out, freshman Antonio Dorn would get the starting spot in the Tech frontcourt for the evening. However, it would be the weapons off the bench that would give the maroon & orange the extra boost it needed to get the win.

Though Tech was able to jump out to a 10-point lead just over midway through the first half, the Gamecocks closed in on the Blacksburg squad heading into halftime. After trading off scores throughout the last 10 minutes of the first half, South Carolina pulled to within one score as the Hokies led 37-34 going into the break.

The contest would remain close until the final buzzer sounded, for the largest lead the rest of the night – held by the Hokies – was only eight points.

South Carolina was able to make up for its three-point deficit from the first half to end regulation; the Gamecocks outscored the Hokies in the second half 36-33. The two teams would head into overtime tied at 70 apiece.

The game would get even tighter throughout overtime, as neither team would lead by more than one score. With victory and defeat at the mercy of one made bucket, every second counted for the Hokies as the game got down to the wire.

The defining moment of the game, however, was Ben Hammond’s made layup with 13 seconds left in overtime. The score, which gave the Hokies an 85-83 lead, would account for the game-winning points that Tech needed. 

South Carolina’s Meechie Johnson would end up taking a three-pointer for the walkoff win against Tech with two seconds left. However, the shot would not fall, and Amani Hansberry would get fouled. Hansberry would add on a free throw to the Hokies’ total on the night, and Tech would secure its much-needed 86-83 win over the Gamecocks.

Hansberry continued his frontcourt dominance Tuesday as he went 10-16 on field goals for the evening. His 22-point outing was good enough for his seventh double-digit-scoring game on the 2025-2026 season. His 14 rebounds also made him good for his fourth double-double in his junior-year campaign.

Tech’s premiere offseason signing, Greece’s Neoklis Avdalas, also had himself a solid night. The freshman – who, more than likely, brought in 17 NBA scouts with 13 teams represented – posted 13 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists as he showed off his all-around playmaking ability.

However, the unsung heroes of the night were the aforementioned scorers off the bench. 

Hammond totaled 16 points off the bench against the Gamecocks Tuesday. The sophomore guard went 5-9 on field goals – including 2-4 on three-point shots – as well as 4-4 from the line. 

Jaden Schutt also continued to thrive off the bench, as he went 4-8 on field goals, 2-5 from three, and 2-3 on free throws. His 12-point outing against South Carolina was his third consecutive double-digit-point game off the bench this season, as well as his sixth total double-digit tally on the season.

Schutt and Hammond, who each played 31 minutes Tuesday night, have acted as a sort of secret weapon for the Hokies in their early games on the 2025-2026 season. The pair of returning Hokies accounted for four of the six made three-pointers on the night for Virginia Tech. In a game where it seemed as though Tech was taking less shots from beyond the arc, the Schutt and Hammond duo provided some important variation for Tech’s gameplan against South Carolina.

With the win, not only does Virginia Tech improve to 7-2, but it also moves to 2-0 in overtime matchups on the season. As the Hokies have, in a way, nestled into their baseline skill level for the season, only time will tell how well the Blacksburg bunch can make a name for itself as a containing team in college basketball. 

Nonetheless, Lawal’s absence has had a great impact in Tech’s gameplanning over the past two weeks. If the team-leader in rebounding can return to play, the Hokies can not only improve their frontcourt playmaking, but also open up the backcourt to add some variety to their game schemes.

The Hokies return to Cassell Coliseum Saturday, Dec. 6 to take on the undefeated George Mason Patriots in a crucial intrastate matchup. Tech, which will look to improve to 8-2 on the 2025-2026 season, will also have the tall task of getting the higher-caliber win under its belt against the Atlantic 10 Conference leader.