The 2017 2K Classic was a tale of two games for the Virginia Tech Hokies.
After a disappointing and surprising loss to St. Louis Thursday night, the Hokies bounced back with a 103-79 win over the Washington Huskies at Madison Square Garden on Friday.
The Hokies participated in the four-team tournament this weekend in New York City and were dealt a blow in the game against St. Louis, in which they only shot 40.4 percent from the field. The loss sent the Hokies to the consolation game, where they turned things around against the 2-1 Huskies and showed that their powerful offense is not done yet.
After a game in which the Hokies looked like they had been robbed of any offensive ability, they came out and made a statement against Washington. The most impressive aspect of Virginia Tech’s performance Friday night has to have been the three-point shots, which there were plenty of.
Virginia Tech came out firing, going on a 7-2 run in the first two minutes. Junior guard Ahmed Hill knocked down four three-pointers in the first 5:42 of the game and finished the contest a perfect 6-for-6 from beyond the arc. Hill was also 3-for-4 from the free throw line, finishing the game with 23 total points to go with his four rebounds and two assists.
Senior guard Justin Bibbs doubled his points from Thursday’s game, scoring 30 against the Huskies. Bibbs was perfect at the free throw line, going 6-for-6. Bibbs was 10-for-15 from the field on the night, draining four of six attempted three-point shots.
Freshman phenom Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who is third on the Hokies with 19.5 points per game, scored 20 on the Huskies and was also a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Alexander-Walker drained four three pointers for the Hokies while snagging seven rebounds, six of which were on defense. Chris Clarke finished the game with seven rebounds as well, all of them coming on the defensive side.
Two other Hokies, Tyrie Jackson and Justin Robinson, finished the game perfect at the free throw line. Jackson went 2-for-2 from the line while Robinson was 4-for-4. Robinson also had five assists to go with his 11 total points.
Kerry Blackshear, Jr., who has been solid for the Hokies so far this season, finished the game 0-for-2 from the field and played just 10 minutes.
The Hokies, who are currently averaging 105 points per game, had one of their better overall team offensive performances of the season, and were especially good from beyond the arc. The Hokies finished shooting 68.2 percent on three-pointers, their best mark of the season. Tech also shot 77.8 percent from the free throw line and 60 percent overall on the night.
Looking forward, Virginia Tech will face Houston Baptist on Tuesday Nov. 21. The Huskies are averaging 81.5 points per game, while the Hokies average 83 points allowed per game. That game will tip off at 7 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum.
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