After beginning the season with home wins over Coppin State and Mercer, the Virginia Tech men's basketball team got their first road test of the season on Tuesday against Iowa, which went to the Elite Eight last March, in Sioux Falls, Iowa, in The Bad Boy Mowers Series. It was tabbed a neutral-site game, but let's be honest, the place was filled with Hawkeyes fans and a home-court atmosphere.
Virginia Tech led 41-40 at halftime in a half where the Hokies played more than well enough to have a bigger lead, but too much fouling cost them, and Iowa shot 21 free throws. In the second half, both teams lived at the free-throw line, but when push came to shove, Virginia Tech made a statement with a five-point win that will be a huge résumé win when it comes to the NCAA Tournament in March. Here are three winners and two losers after the Hokies improved to 3-0.
Winner: Ben Hammond
It's only the third game of the season, but we're beginning to run out of ways to describe Ben Hammond's play. Seriously. He was very good once again, and he did it against a big-time step-up in competition. Hammond scored a game-high 32 points with five rebounds and four assists. He went 11-for-11 from the free-throw line, but he fouled out, which made the win that much more important.
Loser: Virginia Tech's half-court defense
I'm not sure what to say here. In the first half alone, Iowa shot 21 free throws, making 14. That was out of the 40 points they scored in the half. If Virginia Tech played any kind of defense without fouling, they could have had a little bigger a cushion on the scoreboard. Things didn't get better in the second half as the Hokies let the Hawkeyes live at the free-throw line, and they ate the Hokies alive when they switched, getting the mismatch with Hammond on the offensive end.
In the second half, they went to some double teams, but sometimes they came too late, and the rotation wasn't where it was supposed to be in time.
Winner: Isaiah Elohim
Through the first two games, Florida Atlantic transfer Isaiah Elohim was quiet while things went through Hammond, Amani Hansberry, and Jaylen Curry. However, Elohim had a breakout game that was good to see, and he was very effective in the first half. He had 10 points and scored both from the outside and in transition. He played good defense as well and finished with 10 points. If he can do that consistently, then he will be another option this season as the season goes along.
Loser: Virginia Tech rebounding
Well, if there is one thing, among a few things, that Young is going to have to work on in practice before they host Mount Saint Mary's on Friday night at Cassell Coliseum. Somehow, the Hokies avoided losing after being outrebounded 40-26. Iowa hurt the Hokies on the offensive end of the floor on the glass, and truth be told, if they had rebounded the ball better on the defensive end, they would have won the game in regulation. Rebound, rebound, rebound.
Winner: Jaylen Curry
Virginia Tech's backcourt created nightmares for the Hawkeyes with Curry and Hammond. After scoring just two first-half points, Curry erupted for 14 second-half points, but missed two of three free throws at the end of regulation that could have sealed the win. Instead, the game went to overtime, and he scored nine points in the extra session to make sure the Hokies picked up a huge road win.
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