Freshman Kaspar Sepp (Tartu, Estonia / Fairmont Academy) continued a breakout week by registering his first double-figure scoring output and sophomore Jaxon Edwards (Indianapolis, Ind. / Cathedral also provided a scoring lift, but the Valparaiso University men’s basketball team fell 71-50 on Saturday afternoon at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Va.
How It Happened
- Edwards set the tone for his strong showing by drilling a 3-pointer on Valpo’s first possession of the game to put the Beacons in front. Edwards had the team’s first five points in a close game early.
- The Beacons trailed by 3 midway through the half after a made triple by Isaiah Stafford (Bolingbrook, Ill. / Crispus Attucks [John A. Logan / Southern Indiana]) and a Sepp bucket on a Darius DeAveiro (Kanata, Ottawa, Canada / Orangeville Prep) assist.
- Virginia Tech went on a 9-0 run and eventually built the lead to 12 at 30-18 with 5:15 on the first-half clock. By the time the horn sounded to end the first half, Valpo trailed 37-23.
- Stafford registered eight points in the second half and Edwards made three of his four shots after the break, but Virginia Tech outscored Valpo 34-27 over the final 20 minutes. DeAveiro drilled a 3 and had five points in the second half while also dishing out three assists in the half.
Inside the Game
- Stafford led Valpo with 14 points, while Edwards (13) and Sepp (10) joined him in double figures.
- Sepp’s 10 points eclipsed his previous personal best of eight scored in the Nov. 6 season opener vs. Trinity Christian. He had not scored against a Division-I opponent before totaling 16 points over two games this week. He went 5-of-7 shooting on Saturday and grabbed five boards.
- Edwards started the season with three straight double-figure games, but this marked his first double-figure scoring output in the last seven games. He returned to double figures for the fourth time this season and the first time since Nov. 14 vs. Green Bay. He hauled in five rebounds and went 6-of-10 shooting.
- Stafford reached double figures for the fifth straight game and the ninth time in 10 games this season.
- DeAveiro finished with seven points, four rebounds and six assists, stretching his streak to six straight games with five assists or more. He’s knocked down at least one 3 in each of the last four games.
- The 3-point arc was one of the major differences in the game as Valpo went just 3-of-24 (12.5 percent), while Virginia Tech was 10-of-27 (37 percent), outscoring the Beacons by 21 points on 3-point shots in a game the Hokies won by 21.
- Virginia Tech outrebounded Valpo 41-22 including a 13-5 edge on the offensive glass. Virginia Tech squeezed 11 offensive rebounds in the second half against just one for Valpo.
- Valpo swiped nine steals, led by Stafford with four. He tied a season high set in the Nov. 6 season opener vs. Trinity Christian and had his fourth game with three or more steals. Stafford also rejected two shots as part of a strong defensive effort.
- Valpo possessed a 15-14 edge in the turnover battle.
- Virginia Tech is ranked 69th in the NET, making this a Quad 1 game for the Beacons.
- Valpo played without point guard Jahari Williamson (illness), who was sidelined for a second straight game.
Up Next
The Beacons (4-6) will have some time off for final exams before returning to action against Chicago State on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
