BLACKSBURG, Va. — Chucky Hepburn’s 15-point performance propelled Louisville to a narrow 71-66 win over Virginia Tech in an exhilarating matchup on Tuesday night. The victory solidifies Louisville’s position as the 19th-ranked team and adds to their impressive streak of victories. Hepburn, while only making 5 of his 12 attempts from the field, was perfect with his four free throws and contributed substantially with six assists, helping the Cardinals (22-6, 15-2 ACC) secure their sixth straight win and 16th victory in the last 17 games.
Virginia Tech was led by Brandon Rechsteiner, who matched up valiantly with 18 points for the Hokies (12-16, 7-10 ACC). Despite having an 11-point lead in the second half, Louisville faced a relentless Virginia Tech, who closed the gap to 67-66 on Rechsteiner’s jumper with just under two minutes left. However, critical turnovers on two of their last three possessions cost the Hokies the opportunity to clinch the game.
Louisville’s James Scott made a decisive statement with his dunk, followed by two crucial free throws by Reyne Smith in the final moments, sealing the outcome. Both Scott and Terrence Edwards Jr. added 13 points apiece, with the Cardinals ultimately capitalizing on 22 Hokie turnovers.
Louisville continues to surprise this season, securing their ninth win on the road and maintains a slim chance of claiming the top seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament. Three games still await them, all of which are home fixtures, providing a promising path to closing the regular season on a high note.
On the other side, Virginia Tech finds itself in challenging circumstances. Having dropped three of their last four games, the Hokies look at the looming possibility of finishing with a losing record for the first time in a decade, unless they can turnaround their remaining fixtures.
A pivotal play in the encounter was Scott’s offensive rebound and subsequent dunk after a missed shot by Hepburn, giving Louisville a vital cushion as time wound down. Furthermore, Louisville’s aggressive defense exploited Virginia Tech’s mistakes, resulting in 26 points procured off those turnovers, a testament to the Hokies’ struggles.
Looking ahead, the Cardinals will host Pittsburgh on Saturday, while the Hokies prepare for another home game against Syracuse on the same day.
