Virginia Tech Falls to No. 4 Duke in Blacksburg: Missed Chances and Defensive Lapses Prove Costly
There’s usually a little extra energy in the building when Duke comes to town, and Saturday in Blacksburg was no exception. Virginia Tech fans had reason to be hopeful - the Hokies have had their moments against the Blue Devils at home over the years.
But this one didn’t go their way. No.
4 Duke came in, took control early, and never looked back, handing Tech a 72-58 loss that stings for more than just the final score.
From the opening tip, Duke set the tone. The game was close for the first five minutes - a one-possession battle with both teams trading early punches.
But then the Blue Devils hit the gas. A 15-5 run turned a tight contest into a 30-15 Duke lead with just over six minutes left in the first half.
By then, it was clear: Virginia Tech was playing catch-up the rest of the way.
To their credit, the Hokies didn’t fold. They clawed back late in the half, trimming a 16-point deficit to just nine at the break (40-31). But the early damage was done - and a big part of that was on the defensive end.
Virginia Tech simply couldn’t get stops in the first 20 minutes. Duke shot a blistering 62% from the field in the first half, and that kind of efficiency is hard to survive, especially against a top-five team. The Hokies shot a respectable 46% themselves, but when you’re trading twos for threes - or not getting stops at all - it’s a tough hill to climb.
The main problem? Cameron Boozer.
The Duke freshman played like a veteran, showing exactly why he’s considered one of the top players in the country. Virginia Tech had no answer for him, and his presence on the floor tilted the game in Duke’s favor every time he touched the ball.
Still, the Hokies had their chances. The defense tightened up in the second half, and there were moments - brief, but real - where it felt like a comeback was brewing.
Amani Hansberry led the charge, delivering his best performance of the season. The junior forward poured in 20 points, including 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc.
He looked confident, composed, and ready for the moment.
Ben Hammond and Jailen Bedford chipped in with 11 and 12 points, respectively, but the supporting cast didn’t do quite enough to close the gap. The Hokies got within six points with under four minutes to play, and that’s when the game reached its tipping point.
Freshman Neoklis Avdalas, who’s had his ups and downs this season, had a chance to make it a one-possession game. He beat his defender off the dribble and pulled up from around 12 feet - a shot he’s capable of making.
But the jumper barely grazed the rim. Duke grabbed the rebound, pushed the pace, and quickly rebuilt the lead.
Just like that, the window closed.
And then came the missed threes. Six straight open looks from deep - all clean, all makeable - and none of them fell.
Against a team like Duke, those are the moments that make the difference. You can’t afford to go cold when the game’s still within reach.
Avdalas, in particular, struggled. He finished just 1-of-8 from the field for five points and added only four assists. Late in the game, after another miss, he heard it from the home crowd - a rare moment for a freshman who’s shown flashes but is still learning what it takes at this level.
The loss drops Virginia Tech to 16-7 overall and 5-5 in ACC play. That puts them seventh in the conference, just one game behind fifth-place North Carolina. So while the standings are still tight, the margin for error is shrinking.
And it doesn’t get any easier from here. The Hokies now have a full week to regroup before heading to Raleigh to face N.C.
State. That game kicks off a brutal four-game stretch that includes road trips to Clemson and Miami - all teams ahead of Tech in the ACC standings.
If Virginia Tech wants to stay in the NCAA Tournament conversation, this next stretch is where they’ll have to prove it. The talent is there.
The effort is there. But the execution - especially on defense and in key offensive moments - has to be sharper.
Because against teams like Duke, even a few missed chances can be the difference between a statement win and a missed opportunity.