Notre Dame Outpaces Hokies in a Showdown at Purcell Pavilion
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish added another victory to their record with a 74-66 win over the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Fighting Irish's season tally now reads more impressively, while the Hokies' record took another hit. The game saw an energetic crowd of 7,394 fans at Purcell Pavilion, witnessing a contest that included six ties and five lead changes.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish showcased their offensive efficiency by shooting 49 percent from the field and an impressive 57 percent on two-point attempts. Their free throw accuracy was also notable as they made 76 percent of their shots from the line. The team's defensive efforts were highlighted by eight steals and a total of 34 rebounds, outmatching the Hokies who managed only three steals and 28 rebounds.
A key aspect of the game was Notre Dame's ability to capitalize on turnovers; they scored 12 points off turnovers compared to just five for Virginia Tech. Additionally, Notre Dame demonstrated better ball distribution with a total of 14 assists and maintained a higher assists-to-turnover ratio at two compared to Virginia Tech's ratio of approximately one.
The home team also had better control under pressure, committing fewer personal fouls (14) than their opponents (16). This discipline allowed them to maintain momentum throughout both halves as they scored consistently with 35 points in the first half followed by an even stronger second half performance netting them another 39 points.
Virginia Tech did put up strong numbers in certain areas; they shot well from beyond the arc with eight three-pointers made at a rate of about one-third success. They also had significant contributions inside with scoring thirty-two points in paint but ultimately fell short against Notre Dame’s robust defense and more dynamic offense.
Looking ahead, fans can mark their calendars for an exciting matchup as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will host Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Purcell Pavilion on February 14th at seven o'clock PM Eastern Time. This game will be broadcast nationally on ACC Network channel six hundred twelve for those eager to follow along from home or elsewhere.