Notre Dame Falls to Virginia Tech in Road Battle Marked by Turnovers and Free Throws
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Notre Dame ran into a buzzsaw in Blacksburg on Saturday afternoon, falling 89-76 to a Virginia Tech squad that continues to be nearly unbeatable at home. The Hokies, now 11-1 on their home floor, leaned into their strengths-attacking the paint, forcing turnovers, and cashing in at the free-throw line-to outlast a scrappy but shorthanded Irish team still searching for consistency in ACC play.
Virginia Tech made the most of their trips to the stripe, hitting 28 of 32 free throws-an elite 88% clip that proved to be a difference-maker. They also turned Notre Dame’s 13 turnovers into 20 points, a stat that loomed large in a game where the Irish never quite found their footing defensively.
“They’re tough to deal with, especially when we’re banged up and playing smaller,” said Notre Dame head coach Micah Shrewsberry. “Coach Young has done a great job with that group.
They’ve taken some hits this year but keep bouncing back. That’s a credit to him.”
Despite the loss, Notre Dame had a few bright spots to build on-none brighter than freshman Brady Koehler. He poured in a career-high 17 points, including 15 in the second half, shooting 5-of-7 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line. The young forward looked increasingly confident as the game wore on, stepping up in a big way when the Irish needed a spark.
Sophomore Sir Mohammed continued his upward trajectory, logging double figures for the second straight game with 12 points. He also led the team in rebounds (5) and assists (3), showing off the kind of all-around game that could make him a centerpiece moving forward.
Cole Certa chipped in 14 points, knocking down three triples and going a perfect 6-for-6 at the line. It was his seventh double-digit scoring outing of the season, and once again, his shooting helped keep Notre Dame within striking distance during several key stretches.
Graduate forward Matt MacLellan made the most of his 11 minutes off the bench, posting season highs in points (7) and rebounds (3). His energy helped steady the Irish during a few turbulent moments in the second half.
As a team, Notre Dame shot 44% from the field (27-of-61), but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 6-of-24 from deep-well below their season average of 36%. The Hokies, meanwhile, were efficient across the board, shooting 51% (27-of-53) and using their physicality to dominate the paint and control the tempo.
How It Unfolded
Notre Dame got off to a decent start, with Sir Mohammed knocking down his first two shots, including a three. But Virginia Tech came out hot, hitting four of their first six shots-two of them from deep-to take a quick 10-7 lead.
That early momentum turned into a 13-2 Hokie run, fueled by five straight made field goals. Notre Dame called timeout trailing 18-9, needing to regroup.
They did just that, with a nice feed inside to Logan Sundra ending a three-minute scoring drought. Shrewsberry followed with a strong drive to the rim, and Certa added a three to pull the Irish closer.
Notre Dame’s defense held Virginia Tech without a field goal for over four and a half minutes midway through the half, and the Irish capitalized. Mohammed and Koehler converted off Hokie turnovers to cut the deficit to just two, 22-20.
But the Hokies responded with a pair of back-to-back threes out of the media timeout, sparking a 10-0 run that re-established control. Certa did his best to keep Notre Dame in it, scoring eight straight points, and Mohammed added a tough finish to bring the Irish within nine at 39-30.
Freshman Markus Burton Haralson gave the Irish a lift before the break, grabbing two offensive boards that led to four quick points. Notre Dame’s defense held strong on the final possession of the half, heading into the locker room down 45-34.
At the break, Certa led all Irish scorers with 11 points, followed by Mohammed with nine. On the other side, Virginia Tech had three players already in double figures-Hammond (11), Hansberry (10), and Lawal (10). The Hokies shot a blistering 56% in the first half and were perfect at the line (11-of-11), while Notre Dame shot 41% and hit 5-of-6 free throws.
Second Half Surge Falls Short
Notre Dame opened the second half facing an uphill climb, and Virginia Tech didn’t make it any easier. A 10-0 Hokie run ballooned the lead to 60-41, and the Irish were suddenly staring at a 19-point deficit.
Even as Notre Dame found some offensive rhythm, they couldn’t string together enough stops to mount a real comeback. Virginia Tech pushed the lead to 20 midway through the half, and every Irish bucket seemed to be met with an answer on the other end.
Still, the Irish kept grinding. Down 19 with just under seven minutes left, they put together a 7-2 burst-including five straight from Koehler-to make it a 13-point game with under five minutes to go. But time and again, Virginia Tech came up with just enough to hold the Irish at arm’s length.
Koehler scored 12 of Notre Dame’s final 17 points, showing poise and toughness down the stretch. But the gap proved too wide to close, and neither team scored in the final 1:12 as the clock wound down on an 89-76 Hokie win.
What’s Next
The road doesn’t get any easier for Notre Dame. Next up is a trip to Chapel Hill, where they’ll face a high-powered North Carolina squad on Wednesday, Jan.
- Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
ET on ESPN2. It’s another big test in a revamped ACC, and another chance for this young Irish team to show what they’re building toward.