Field Level Media
Dec 8, 2021
Keve Aluma scored 16 points and Darius Maddox added 14 points as Virginia Tech had seven scorers in double figures as it routed Cornell 93-60 in a nonconference game Wednesday night in Blacksburg, Va.
Nahiem Alleyne scored 13 points, Hunter Cattoor and Sean Pedulla had 11 apiece and Justyn Mutts and David N'Guessan each scored 10 points for the Hokies (7-3). N'Guessan grabbed nine rebounds and Mutts pulled down eight.
Kobe Dickson and Guy Ragland Jr. each scored 11 points for Cornell (8-2).
The only potential glitch occurred with 17:21 left when Aluma came out of the game with an apparent injury to his lower left leg. However, he checked back in 2:07 later and soon showed no ill effects, skying for a breakaway dunk off a pass from N'Guessan to give Virginia Tech a 63-40 lead with 13:42 remaining.
On Virginia Tech's next possession, Pedulla's 3-point attempt rolled around the rim and dropped in for a 66-42 advantage. It was that kind of night for the Hokies. Cornell never threatened in the second half.
The Big Red stayed competitive through the first 10-plus minutes of the game and trailed only 25-24 after Keller Boothby's 3-pointer with 9:25 left in the first half. however, the Hokies went on a 9-0 run over the next 4:19. Storm Murphy had the first four points in the spurt, which finally was broken up by Ragland's trey with five minutes to go, cutting Cornell's deficit to 34-27.
Virginia Tech surged again, this time with Mutts as the catalyst. First, he made two free throws to extend the lead to nine. Then, he made a terrific one-handed pass to Aluma for a dunk and a 38-27 Hokies advantage with 4:12 to go in the half.
That basket was part of an 11-0 run that eventually put the Hokies ahead 45-27 with 1:49 left in the half. Pedulla's driving layup for the Hokies with one second left in the half gave the hosts a 47-31 lead at intermission.
--Field Level Media