Virginia Tech Rolls Past Maryland Eastern Shore for Fourth Straight Win, Depth Shines in 82-53 Victory
Virginia Tech is finding its rhythm, and Sunday’s 82-53 win over Maryland Eastern Shore was another step in the right direction. The Hokies have now rattled off four straight victories, improving to 10-2 on the season-matching the second-best start under head coach Mike Young, a mark last seen during the 2020-21 campaign.
This one was about more than just the final score. It was about opportunity, and a handful of Hokies made the most of theirs.
Neoklis Avdalas Leads the Way-And Battles Through a Scare
Neoklis Avdalas continues to grow into his role, and Sunday was another strong showing from the Greek guard. He poured in a team-high 16 points, went 4-for-9 from the field, and knocked down a pair of threes. He also dished out seven assists, grabbed three steals, and showed the kind of poise that’s becoming his trademark.
There was a brief scare just before halftime when Avdalas hit the deck diving for a loose ball. He took a moment to get up, limped off, and headed to the locker room. But in typical fashion, he returned in the second half and played another 12 minutes, showing no signs of slowing down.
“Neo got hurt diving for a loose ball there early,” said Coach Young. “Got back to the locker room, got checked out, and felt fine. Thought he played another really good ballgame for our team.”
Christian Gurdak Steps Up in the Paint
With Antonio Dorn sidelined early after tweaking a lingering back issue, freshman Christian Gurdak saw extended minutes-and he didn’t waste them. Gurdak was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, finishing with 13 points and eight rebounds in 25 minutes. Two of those buckets came on tip-ins that turned into and-one opportunities, showcasing his instincts and toughness around the rim.
“A lot of it is positioning,” Gurdak said. “Before the shot goes up, is he open, is he not open?
You can wedge them under the rim and get the whole backside. And then it’s just having that dog in you-wanting to go get it.”
Coach Young praised Gurdak’s effort but noted there’s still room to grow on the defensive glass.
“He’s got great hands. His offensive rebounding far exceeds his defensive rebounding,” Young said.
“He’s got to rebound outside of his area better, but he plays really hard. He’s a joy to coach, and I’m proud of him.
On an afternoon without Dorn, we really needed that.”
Izaiah Pasha Makes His Case
Perhaps the biggest storyline of the day was Izaiah Pasha. With starting guard Jailen Bedford out due to an upper-respiratory illness, Pasha got his chance-and he delivered. The former CAA Rookie of the Year logged a season-high 27 minutes and turned in his most complete performance as a Hokie: seven points, six assists, two rebounds, two steals, and zero turnovers.
He led the team in plus-minus at +24 and played with the kind of confidence that could earn him a bigger role moving forward.
“He made the most of it,” Young said. “Now build on it.
We’ve got Elon next week before we head into break, and he’ll be in there early. You prove yourself, don’t turn it over, share the ball, compete defensively-you get another bite at the apple.
Now do it again.”
Pasha’s performance wasn’t just efficient-it was electric. He drilled his first three-pointer in a Tech uniform, threw down a one-handed dunk, and delivered a handful of highlight-worthy passes, including a transition dime to Avdalas for a dunk, a backdoor assist to Sin’Cere Jones, and a skip pass that set up a Tyler Johnson three.
“The biggest thing is just taking advantage of my opportunity,” Pasha said. “Coach J.D.
[Byers] kept me locked in-telling me to stay ready, stay confident, and keep working. That meant a lot.”
Usual Suspects Deliver, Too
While the newcomers and backups made headlines, Tech’s core continued to produce. Amani Hansberry nearly had a double-double with 12 points, nine rebounds, and three assists.
Tyler Johnson added 12 points, five boards, and three steals. Ben Hammond chipped in 10 points and four assists.
Together, that trio provided the steadying presence that allowed the Hokies to pull away after a tight first 15 minutes. A 10-0 run-sparked by a Hansberry three, a Pasha coast-to-coast layup, a Johnson triple, and a Hammond finish-gave Tech breathing room before halftime. They went into the break up 38-29 and never looked back.
Lockdown Defense in the Second Half
The Hokies’ defense clamped down after halftime. After allowing Maryland Eastern Shore to shoot 46% in the first half, Tech held the Hawks to just 29% from the field in the second. That defensive intensity fueled a 44-24 second-half advantage and helped turn a close game into a blowout.
Offensively, the Hokies were clicking. They shot 54% from the field (31-for-57) and 46% from three (11-for-24), and they were unselfish with the ball-racking up 24 assists on 31 made shots.
“We had 13 assists on 16 makes in the first half,” Young said. “That’s the way the game’s supposed to be played.
That’s sharing the ball, turning down a good shot for a great shot. Hansberry helps with that-he’s such an elite passer and offensive connector.
That’s a three-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio for the game. That’s pretty awesome.”
Looking Ahead
Virginia Tech wraps up its non-conference slate next Saturday against Elon. It’ll be the first meeting between the two programs since 2008, and the Hokies will look to carry this momentum into the break before ACC play begins.
With players like Pasha, Gurdak, and Jones showing they can contribute-and with Bedford and Dorn expected to return soon-this team is starting to show real depth. And if Sunday’s performance is any indication, the Hokies are building something that could make some noise down the stretch.