BLACKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — A dominant first-half performance and a relentless parade to the free-throw line propelled Virginia Tech to an 89-76 victory over Notre Dame in Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball on Saturday at a sold-out Cassell Coliseum.

The Hokies, improving to 14-5 overall, seized control early with efficient offense and physical defense, building a double-digit lead that the Fighting Irish could never seriously threaten. Notre Dame, which fell to 10-8, struggled to find consistent scoring outside of isolated spurts and was ultimately undone by Virginia Tech’s ability to draw fouls and convert at the stripe.

The most critical phase of the game was the opening 20 minutes, where Virginia Tech established a tone of offensive precision and defensive pressure. The Hokies shot over 50% from the field in the first half and capitalized on Notre Dame’s mistakes, scoring 20 points off turnovers for the game. A key sequence saw the Hokies stretch an early 18-10 lead with a 7-0 run, capped by a Ben Hammond three-pointer off a Neoklis Avdalas assist, forcing a Notre Dame timeout. The Irish never got the deficit back to a single possession thereafter.

Virginia Tech’s offensive engine was fueled by its interior duo. Amani Hansberry, a 6-foot-8 sophomore from Silver Spring, Maryland, scored 21 points, showcasing a versatile array of post moves and mid-range jumpers. He was complemented powerfully by Tobi Lawal, a 6-8 junior from London, England, who added 22 points, often finishing through contact. Their combined efforts inside helped Virginia Tech match Notre Dame’s 36 points in the paint while drawing far more fouls.

The disparity at the free-throw line was the game’s defining statistical story. Virginia Tech attempted 32 free throws, making 28, for an 87.5% clip. Notre Dame, by contrast, went to the line just 21 times, making 16. The Hokies’ aggression, particularly from Hansberry and Lawal, consistently put the Irish defense in rotation and foul trouble.

Notre Dame was led by Brady Koehler, a 6-10 freshman from Fishers, Indiana, who scored 17 points, and Cole Certa, a 6-5 sophomore from Le Roy, Illinois, who added 14. Sir Mohammed, a 6-6 sophomore from Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed 12 points and three assists. The Irish shot just 44.3% from the field and a frigid 25% from three-point range, unable to mount the sustained shooting run required to close the gap.

Virginia Tech also benefited from a steady hand at the point. Avdalas, a 6-8 guard from Kalamata, Greece, orchestrated the offense with seven assists, while Hammond, a 5-11 sophomore from Manassas, Virginia, chipped in 16 points. Jailen Bedford, a 6-4 sophomore from Austin, Texas, provided a spark with 14 points off the bench.

The Hokies led 45-34 at halftime and maintained a comfortable margin throughout the second half. Every time Notre Dame managed to trim the lead to around 10 points, Virginia Tech answered, usually with a basket inside or a pair of free throws. A late three-pointer from Koehler brought Notre Dame within 85-76 with just over a minute to play, but the Hokies closed out the game at the line.

Virginia Tech, which entered the game as a 4.5-point favorite, outperformed its 72.8% win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system. The combined score of 165 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 140.5.

The victory gives Virginia Tech momentum heading into a challenging stretch of ACC play, beginning with a road game at Syracuse on Wednesday. Notre Dame, mired in a three-game conference losing streak, looks to regroup on the road at North Carolina, also on Wednesday.