Pedulla, Virginia Tech cruise past Grambling State 74-48

Updated Dec. 17, 2022 6:06 p.m. ET

Associated Press

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Sean Pedulla scored 21 points to lead No. 24 Virginia Tech to a 74-48 victory over Grambling State on Saturday.

Pedulla shot 5 for 12 from the floor and had four 3-pointers for the Hokies (11-1), who won their sixth straight game. Pedulla, who added six assists, has scored in double figures in every game this season.

Carte’are Gordon scored 12 points to lead Grambling State (6-4), which saw its three-game winning streak snapped.

Virginia Tech trailed by eight midway through the first half, but closed the first 20 minutes with a 21-2 run to take a 34-25 lead at halftime and never trailed again. The Tigers missed 10 of their final 11 shots in the first half and committed six turnovers in the final 10 minutes.

Hunter Cattoor added 13 points for the Hokies, who shot 51% (26 of 51) and hit 11 3-pointers. Virginia Tech has shot better than 50% in six games this season.

TIP-INS

Grambling State: The Tigers had won four of their previous five games, including a win at Vanderbilt on Dec. 9, but sloppy ball handling (19 turnovers) and poor shooting (36.5%, 19 of 52), particularly toward the end of the first half, ruined their chances of a third win over a Power-5 team this season.

Virginia Tech: The Hokies wrapped up a somewhat soft nonconference slate with a 10-1 record, but they should find out more about themselves with two Atlantic Coast Conference road games to close the calendar year. Virginia Tech has played just one ranked team this season — North Carolina, which played that game without its best player and no longer is in the Top 25.

UP NEXT

Grambling State: The Tigers play at Liberty on Monday.

Virginia Tech: The Hokies play at Boston College on Wednesday.

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