Virginia Tech's Tumultuous Season Ends with Overtime Heartbreak
In the rollercoaster world of college basketball, Virginia Tech has experienced the highs and lows like no other team this season. Perched precariously on the NCAA Tournament bubble, the Hokies faced a crucial test at the ACC Tournament. Unfortunately, their journey ended in a 95-89 overtime defeat to Wake Forest, likely extinguishing their hopes for an NCAA berth.
The Hokies have battled adversity all season, particularly with injuries. Missing their top scorer and No. 2 rebounder, Amani Hansberry, their overtime magic finally ran out. This was their fifth trip to extra time this season, having previously outlasted teams like Providence and Virginia, but this time, the Deacons were too much.
Wake Forest wasted no time in overtime, scoring on their first four possessions and never looking back. This first OT loss for the Hokies mirrored a season of near-misses, with late-game missteps against teams like Stanford and Miami proving costly.
Despite trailing much of the game, Virginia Tech had a chance to steal it at the end of regulation. A late flagrant foul on Tobi Lawal gave Wake Forest crucial points, but the Hokies still had a shot. Ben Hammond's runner in the lane missed, and Jailen Bedford's follow-up rolled off the rim as time expired.
Reflecting on the moment, Coach Mike Young said, “You get two shots on the rim in that situation, sign me up.” Hammond, who led the Hokies with 23 points, added, “I got a decent look, a shot that I work on all the time. And then J.B. with the put-back, it just didn’t - it wasn’t able to fall down.”
Hammond and Bedford, along with Jaden Schutt's 15 points, kept the Hokies in the fight. However, their 41.4% shooting undermined a dominant 45-28 rebounding advantage.
For Wake Forest, Sebastian Akins led with 18 points, and despite Juke Harris struggling with his shot, the Deacons hit 50.8% from the field.
Hansberry's absence was deeply felt. The West Virginia transfer, averaging 14.3 points and 7.4 rebounds, was sidelined with a leg injury, adding to Tech's injury woes. Lawal and Tyler Johnson had missed significant time earlier, and just as the roster seemed whole, Hansberry was out again.
Coach Young held onto hope Hansberry could play, saying, “He was feeling a lot better yesterday. But once we got over here and tried to rev him up at the hotel, it was apparent that he wasn’t going to be able to do it.”
Hansberry's absence was compounded by early foul trouble for Lawal, which allowed Wake to jump to a 25-16 lead. Antonio Dorn provided a much-needed spark off the bench with eight points, seven rebounds, and three assists in just 13 minutes, helping Tech close to 38-34 at halftime.
Wake Forest now moves on to face Clemson in the second round, while Virginia Tech's season likely shifts to the National Invitation Tournament.
This game also marked the 19th meeting between coaches Young and Steve Forbes, whose friendly rivalry dates back to their days in the Southern Conference. Despite the competitive nature, their camaraderie was evident as they exchanged playful jabs before the game.
Reflecting on the season, Young expressed his frustration, “We had our opportunities, and we came up just short. That’s disappointing, infuriating, and I take a lot of responsibility there.”
For Virginia Tech, it's been a season of what-ifs and near-misses, but their resilience and fight have been undeniable.