David N’Guessan notched a career-best 15 points on 7-of-7 shooting as Virginia Tech rolled to an easy 82-47 season-opening victory over Maine on Tuesday night at Blacksburg, Va.
Justyn Mutts recorded 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the wire-to-wire win for the Hokies. Nahiem Alleyne contributed 13 points and seven rebounds for Virginia Tech.
Kristians Feierbergs and Byron Ireland scored nine points apiece for Maine, which trailed by as many as 39 points.
The Black Bears shot just 32.8 percent from the field and made 4 of 22 from 3-point range.
Virginia Tech shot 53 percent from the field, including 9 of 21 from 3-point range.
The Hokies committed just eight turnovers while forcing 19. Virginia Tech had a 22-4 edge in points off turnovers. They also dominated the interior with a 42-22 edge in points in the paint.
Virginia Tech started fast and put the Bears away early.
Alleyne hit two 3-pointers to open the game and the Hokies led 12-2 after a dunk by Mutts with 15:55 left in the half.
A three-point play by John Ojiako increased the lead to 30-11 with 8:01 remaining.
Hunter Cattoor drained a 3-pointer to make it a 20-point margin at 37-17 with 3:51 remaining.
Storm Murphy banked in a 3-pointer as time expired to make it 46-22 at the break.
The onslaught continued in the second half and Mutts scored three consecutive baskets to push the lead to 54-25 with 14:42 remaining.
The advantage reached 30 on Ojiako’s dunk that made it 60-30 with 12:30 to play.
N’Guessan scored five points during a 7-0 run as Virginia Tech’s lead reached 77-41 with 3:57 left.
The advantage topped out at 39 points when Darius Maddox converted a layup to make it 82-43 with 2:05 remaining.
–Field Level Media
