Virginia Tech men's basketball opens the 2026-27 season with an 88-54 victory over Coppin State at Cassell Coliseum.
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Ben Hammond delivers a career-tying performance with 20 points, eight assists and seven steals as the Hokies roll past the Eagles, 88-54, at Cassell Coliseum.
Virginia Tech men’s basketball opened its 2026-27 campaign with a statement, taking care of business at home with an 88-54 victory over Coppin State on Nov. 3 at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The Hokies (1-0) turned a competitive opening stretch into a commanding performance, using balanced scoring, defensive pressure and an impressive showing from Ben Hammond to pull away from the Eagles (0-1).
Hammond led all Virginia Tech scorers with 20 points, tying his career high in three-pointers with four. He also handed out eight assists, matching another career best, while collecting a career-high seven steals — just one shy of the program record.
It was the kind of all-around performance that set the tone for Virginia Tech’s season opener.
Hammond Sets the Tone as Four Hokies Reach Double Figures
Hammond was not the only Hokie making noise. Virginia Tech had four players finish in double figures, showing the scoring depth head coach Mike Young will look to build on throughout the season.
Jaylen Curry made an immediate impression in his Virginia Tech debut, finishing with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting. He knocked down three three-pointers and gave the Hokies another reliable scoring option in the backcourt.
Amani Hansberry added 16 points and nine rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double. He also contributed four assists and two steals, making his presence felt on both ends of the floor.
Tyler Johnson provided a spark off the bench with 13 points and seven rebounds. He was perfect at the free-throw line, converting all six of his attempts.
The production did not stop there. Isaiah Elohim finished with six points, two rebounds and two assists, while Miles Heide contributed five points and five rebounds.
Virginia Tech also saw eight players make their Hokies debuts, giving the season opener an added opportunity to introduce new faces into the rotation.
A Strong Start Built on Shooting and Second-Chance Opportunities
Virginia Tech established control early, taking a 45-27 lead into halftime before adding another 43 points in the second half.
The Hokies finished the night shooting 50% from the field, making 29 of 58 attempts. Their perimeter shooting was especially effective: Virginia Tech connected on 13 of 28 three-point attempts, a 46.4% clip.
The Eagles struggled to keep pace offensively. Coppin State shot 36.5% from the field and made just two of its 12 attempts from beyond the arc.
Virginia Tech also created opportunities through its work on the glass. The Hokies collected 38 rebounds compared with Coppin State’s 29 and held a significant 22-7 advantage in second-chance points.
That difference matters. Second-chance points come when a team grabs an offensive rebound and scores on the same possession. Virginia Tech’s advantage showed how effectively it extended possessions and made Coppin State pay for failing to secure defensive rebounds.
The Hokies also recorded 20 assists on 29 made field goals, highlighting the ball movement behind their offensive performance.
Defense Makes Its Presence Felt
While the shooting numbers grabbed attention, Virginia Tech’s defensive effort helped create separation.
Hammond’s seven steals led the way, while the Hokies finished with 12 steals as a team. They also recorded five blocks and forced 26 Coppin State turnovers.
Virginia Tech turned those takeaways into 26 points off turnovers, putting additional pressure on an Eagles offense that struggled to find consistency.
Coppin State’s Brendan Johnson led the Eagles with 17 points, but the team could not overcome Virginia Tech’s defensive pressure and shooting efficiency.
The Hokies controlled the game for 38 minutes and 21 seconds, with their largest lead reaching 36 points.
Mike Young Continues Strong Season-Opening Run
The victory also added another milestone to head coach Mike Young’s Virginia Tech tenure.
Young improved to 125-98 at Virginia Tech and 424-342 overall. He also moved to 8-0 in season openers with the Hokies.
Virginia Tech is now 84-30 at Cassell Coliseum under Young, including a 22-3 record in the first home game of the season.
Those numbers reflect the consistency the Hokies have established at home, and opening the new season with a decisive win gives the program an early foundation to build on.
What This Win Really Means
An opening-night victory does not define an entire season, but Virginia Tech gave itself plenty of reasons to feel encouraged.
First, the Hokies showed they can get production from multiple players. Four reached double figures, and the team finished with 20 assists. That balance makes the offense more difficult to defend than a system that depends on one primary scorer.
Second, Hammond’s performance demonstrated his ability to impact the game beyond scoring. His combination of points, assists and steals showed how much he can influence the pace and momentum of a contest.
Finally, the rebounding and defensive numbers matter. Virginia Tech created extra possessions, forced turnovers and converted those opportunities into points. Those are the types of habits that can carry over when the competition gets tougher.
The next step will be seeing how consistently the Hokies can bring that same energy and execution against stronger opponents.
For now, the season is off to a strong start in Blacksburg.
Source: Virginia Tech Athletics, 2026-27 Men’s Basketball Postgame Notes and official box score, Game 1 vs. Coppin State (Nov. 3, 2026).
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