Hokies make record 21 3-pointers in 100-64 win

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Nahiem Alleyne scored 20 points to lead Virginia Tech to a 100-64 victory over Delaware State on Wednesday.
Alleyne hit 7 of 11 from the floor, including five 3-pointers, and Jalen Cone added 17 points to help the Hokies (5-0) extend their home nonconference winning streak to 28 consecutive games. The freshmen guards led a balanced Virginia Tech attack in which nine players scored and the Hokies hit a school-record 21 3-pointers.
“This offense is built on making 3s, but also they want us to drive more and get to the paint and get to the foul line more,” Alleyne said. “But if we’re open, we’re going to take it.”
John Crosby led Delaware State (0-4) with 19 points.
The Hornets jumped out to a 7-0 lead, hitting three of their first five shots from the floor. But the Hokies found their shooting stroke and scored the next 11 points, never trailing again. The Hokies hit eight 3-pointers in the first half in grabbing a 45-27 halftime lead.
“We have a number of kids that can shoot the ball,” Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young said. “I empower them. When the leather hits your hands, let ‘er rip. If you’re open and in rhythm, and it’s a practice shot … we have a number of kids that shoot the ball well. I didn’t think we took a bad shot. I thought they were rhythm shots and good shots.”
Virginia Tech also set an ACC record with its 21 3-pointers. The Hokies hit 21 of their 37 3-point attempts, with Alleyne, Cone and Isaiah Wilkins hitting five each. Virginia Tech shot a season-best 56.5% (35 of 62) from the floor.
“They shot the cover off the ball,” Delaware State head coach Eric Skeeters said. “You think you did a good job of guard and rotate and switch and getting out to them, and then ‘Boom! Boom! Boom!’ … They played like an ACC team to their credit.”
TIP-INS
Delaware State: The Hornets could have one of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s better players in Crosby, who transferred from Dayton and sat out last season. The senior, who has scored in double figures in every game, wasn’t intimidated at playing against an ACC opponent and showed an ability to create his own shot. If he continues to play well, he could lead the Hornets to a better finish than many expect. They were picked to finish 10th in the 11-team MEAC.
Virginia Tech: The Hokies finally were able to get Wilkins going after a slow start to the season. Wilkins, one of their more experienced players, was shooting just 34.8% (24 of 69) and had made just two 3-pointers coming into the game, but he scored 15 points in what marked his best outing of the season by far.
UP NEXT
Delaware State: The Hornets play at East Tennessee State on Saturday.
Virginia Tech: The Hokies play Michigan State in Maui, Hawaii as part of the Maui Invitational on Monday.
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