BERKELEY, Calif.
— Jaydon Young made a significant contribution off the bench, scoring 14 points as Virginia Tech emerged victorious against Cal, winning 71-68 on Saturday.

Tyler Johnson starred for the Hokies with an impressive double-double, logging 11 points along with 12 rebounds. His teammates, Brandon Rechsteiner and Mylyjael Poteat, each added 12 points. This victory was particularly vital for Virginia Tech (7-9, 2-3), as they had struggled recently, losing three out of their last four matches.

For Cal (8-8, 1-4), Andrej Stojakovic led the scoring with 24 points, supported by reserve player Jeremiah Wilkinson, who contributed 14 points.

As the game concluded, Stojakovic had a chance to tie it up with a 3-point shot, but his attempt failed to find the basket, sealing the win for Virginia Tech.

The Hokies started strong, building a commanding 42-23 lead by halftime. Although Cal made a strong push in the second half, outscoring Virginia Tech 26-7 at one phase, they managed to narrow the score to 58-55 after a pivotal 3-pointer from Stojakovic with just over 7 minutes to go. Cal briefly tied the game at 58, but Tobi Lawal responded with a crucial 3-pointer, allowing the Hokies to regain the lead for good.

Rechsteiner’s jumper early in the game set the tone for Virginia Tech as they surged to a 15-4 advantage. Six minutes before halftime, they maintained a lead of 31-17, eventually closing the first half with a commanding margin of 42-23, shooting an impressive 61.5% from the field (16 for 26).

This matchup marked only the second meeting between the two teams, with the previous encounter taking place over 30 years ago. Back then, Cal triumphed over Virginia Tech with a score of 68-59 on November 30, 1991, during the Central Fidelity Holiday Classic.

Next, Cal is set to challenge the North Carolina Tar Heels on Wednesday, while Virginia Tech prepares to host N.C. State.