Virginia Tech Hokies vs Purdue Boilermakers Match Player Stats On Nov 18, 2018

Three players scored more than 20 points for No. 16 Virginia Tech on Sunday night as the Hokies made up a double-digit deficit to beat No. 23 Purdue 89-83 for the Charleston (S.C.) Classic championship.

Sophomore Nickeil Alexander-Walker pumped in 25 points while playing the full 40 minutes for the Hokies (4-0). Justin Robinson and Ahmed Hill each added 23, and center Kerry Blackshear contributed 13 points, including a driving layup just before the shot clock expired for an 87-81 lead with 39.8 seconds left.

Point guard Carsen Edwards scored a game-high 26 points for the Boilermakers (4-1). He added seven assists but committed six turnovers. Evan Boudreaux chipped in 18 points and seven rebounds, while Ryan Cline drilled four 3-pointers and tallied 14 points.

Purdue led 50-38 early in the second half, but Virginia Tech rallied, taking the lead when Alexander-Walker drilled a 3-pointer with 12:33 remaining to make it 58-56. The Hokies pushed the lead to six before Edwards rallied the Boilermakers into a 69-69 tie on a driving layup with 6:52 left.

A three-point play by Hill with 3:50 left snapped a 77-77 tie. Hill drained a trey with 3:05 remaining to up the margin to six, and Virginia Tech kept Purdue at bay with offensive execution. It was the first in-season tournament title for the Hokies since 2008.

Purdue landed the first punch, using an 8-1 spurt to take a 14-7 lead on Edwards' 3-pointer at the 13:39 mark. The Boilermakers' offensive efficiency kept Virginia Tech at check throughout the first half, leading to a 36-24 advantage on Grady Eifert's layup with 6:22 left.

The Hokies pushed back late in the half, making a 12-5 run and cutting their deficit to 41-36 when Robinson drained a pair of free throws with 35 seconds on the clock. However, a Nojel Eastern jumper and an Edwards foul shot allowed Purdue to head for the locker room with a 44-36 advantage.

--Field Level Media