The Virginia Tech Hokies are undefeated! Welcome back Virginia Tech Basketball Fans! We are back in Cassel for the first match up of the year; our Virginia Tech Hokies take on The Radford (not Tyrece) Highlanders. With Covid running rampant all across the world, it felt good to be back watching College Basketball.

Radford took the first lead of the year, going up an almost insurmountable 1-0 lead within the first minute. Tyrece Radford of Virginia Tech only had 1 three point made jump shot made all of last year; he did that n the first 4 minutes of the game in his first game, to get the Hokies on the score board for the first time all season The Hokies came out colder than a beer from Sharkey’s starting 1-6. Now, Radford is no slouch, they were 23-11 and won the Big South last year. Radford continued to add to their lead with an and one foul on Cordell Pemsl. While Lewis Dejonkam sank his free throw to go up 16-13 with 8 minutes left in the first half, Keve Aluma, who followed Mike Young from the Terriers, made his first shot of his Hokie career tying the game at 16. Keve Aluma didn’t stop after his first shot; he came in, had a monster jam and continued with another three pointer to put the Hokies up 21-20. The Kent State transfer, Cartier Diarra got involved during the first half and looks like he is going to be a fun spark plug for this team. He brings energy and finesse, which was shown by his sick lay-up to put the Hokies up 23-22 with 4+ minutes left in the first half. Without Jalen Cone and John Ojiako for the first game of the season, Virginia Tech has already shown that they are going to be a deeper team than last year.The Freshman Joe Bamisile got the Hokies to the charity stripe for the first time this season with a drive to the hole AND 1 LETS GOOOO! Radford continued to stay around longer than I think we anticipated, as they took the lead off 2 free throws with 2 minutes to go in the half. Virginia Tech took over the last two minutes, causing multiple turnovers, making 3 of their last four shots, along with some free throws, taking the lead into the half 37-31. 

Both teams came out in the second half shooting, making 3 of their first 4 shots with the Hokies taking an early second half lead 42-33. Both teams came out sloppier than a me after having their second rail from Tots after graduating. Radford, just like in the first half, just wouldn’t go away as they got within 6 after a nice post up made by Dravon Mangum (not the condom). Something you like to see in teams is when a team seems to get close or any sort of momentum, you squash that and Aluma came down and sunk a three right in Radford’s face to go back up 11. A nice 5-0 run brought the Highlanders back within 6, was eliminated pretty quick as Tyrece Raford drove to the hole to get back up 8. A track meet broke out as Xavier Lipscomb came back and made a 15 foot floater to get back within 6. Sophomore Hunter ‘I hardly know her’ Cattoor drained back to back threes to get up 12 before the official timeout, leading 58-49. I’m not sure what is better; eating a pokey stick from Gumbys (RIP) or watching Hunter Cattoor drain back-to back-to back threes. The Hokies started the second half 11-14, extending their lead to 14, up 66-52 with 7 minutes to go in the second half. Should I just copy and paste, because Cattoor just drained another three pointer to go up 15 with 69 points for the Hokies. Freshman Joe Bamisile had an interesting end to the game going 0-4 with 3 offensive rebounds on the same possession. The Hokies get their first win of the season, defeating Radford 77-62.