Neoklis Avdalas had 33 points, five rebounds and six assists to lead Virginia Tech to a 107-101 overtime victory against Providence on Saturday in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament in Uncasville, Conn.
Providence (1-1) had an 86-84 lead until an Amani Hansberry basket tied the game with five seconds left in regulation. The game went to overtime after Stefan Vaaks missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The Hokies (2-0) opened overtime with an 8-2 spurt and never relinquished the lead. Providence trailed by two, 99-97, but an Avdalas jumper extended the Virginia Tech lead to four points with 1:21 left. The Friars failed to get any closer the rest of the way.
The Hokies received 18 points from Jailen Bedford and 17 from Hansberry. Tobi Lawal finished the game with seven points and 13 rebounds.
Jason Edwards scored 28 and Jaylin Sellers tossed in 26 to lead Providence. Vaaks added 17 for the Friars, and Oswin Erhunmwunse had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Virginia Tech had its largest lead of the first half, 20-12, after Avdalas made a 3-pointer with 13:25 left in the half, but Providence responded with an 8-0 run and tied the game on a Sellers 3-pointer.
The Friars led 44-37 after Erhunmwunse made two free throws with 40 seconds left in the first half and had a 46-40 halftime lead.
Virginia Tech made 7 of its 16 3-point attempts in the half. Providence was 7 of 17 on shots from behind the 3-point arc.
Providence led 54-47 early in the second half, but a 9-0 run capped by an Avdalas 3-pointer put the Hokies in front 56-54 with 14:29 remaining. Virginia Tech led by three, 82-79, after another Avdalas 3-pointer with 3:24 to play. It was 84-84 following an Edwards jumper with 1:54 left.
