BLACKSBURG, Va. — Ben Burnham emerged as a key player off the bench for Virginia Tech, scoring a season-high 17 points in an 80-72 victory over Navy in a nonconference matchup this past Sunday. Burnham’s contribution was crucial, especially during the final minutes of the game, where he netted five of his points to help maintain their lead against a resilient Navy team.
Virginia Tech’s bench showcased impressive depth, with three players contributing in double figures and the entire bench accounting for 46 points. The Hokies, now sporting a 5-6 record, ended a tough six-game losing streak with this win, shooting 52.9% overall (27-of-51) and excelling from beyond the arc with a 55.6% shooting rate (10-of-18).
Navy, which now has a record of 3-8, started the second half trailing by five but managed to tie the game 59-59 after Lysander Rehnstrom sank a three-pointer. Virginia Tech responded quickly with a three-point shot from Jaydon Young. After a tense period where neither team could score, the Hokies extended their lead to nine points, characterized by a three-point play from Burnham.
In addition to Burnham’s standout performance, freshman Ben Hammond recorded his second consecutive double-digit game with 11 points following an earlier career-high score against North Carolina A&T. Sophomore Rodney Brown Jr., despite limited playtime this season, added 11 points while collecting four rebounds and dishing out three assists. Mylyjael Poteat also contributed with 12 points, and Jaden Schutt chipped in with 11.
For Navy, Rehnstrom had a noteworthy outing with 14 points, hitting four of his nine attempts from three-point range. Jordan Pennick and Austin Benigni also made significant contributions, both scoring 14 and 13 points, respectively, with Benigni also securing five rebounds. Jinwoo Kim finished with 12 points for the Midshipmen.
Virginia Tech will wrap up its nonconference schedule against Saint Joseph’s this Saturday, while Navy seeks to end a four-game losing streak with a matchup against Coppin State on the same day.
