Inside HokieSports 1/28: Stingin' Em

Hammond, Hokies Gut Out Home Win For Third Victory In Past Four Games

January 28, 2026

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Good Morning, Tech Fam. Hang it in the Louvre….

What else are we covering in today’s edition, Hokies?

🏀 Stingin’ Em
🥎 Poll Position
👏 Praisin’ A Pair
🦃 And much, much more!

🔼 Stingin’ Em. On Tuesday night, the Hokies once again, gutted out a hard-fought win, taking down visiting Georgia Tech, 71-65, for their third win in the past four games.

Ben Hammond led the way with his third 20+ point performance of the season, finishing with 20 points, three assists and three rebounds. Jailen Bedford added 14 points and four assists, while Tobi Lawal was the third Hokie in double-figures with 10 points and five rebounds.

🔼 Poll Position. With the season right around the corner, the Virginia Tech softball team will enter its upcoming campaign among the nation’s best.

The Hokies were ranked in the top-25 in all four major preseason polls, including a high of #19 by the NFCA.

First pitch of the 2026 campaign is set for next Thursday when they open up at the Gamecock Invitational, facing off against #12 South Carolina, Binghamton and Winthrop.

🔼 Praisin’ A Pair. An all-time record run and a HUGE victory to help clinch a team win over a top-25 opponent that’s how a pair of Hokies earned ACC accolades on Tuesday.

Following his historic run to become the first collegiate athlete to break five minutes in the 2000m, George Couttie was named the ACC Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week.

On the mats, freshman Aaron Seidel stepped up with a 13-0 major decision in his Casell Coliseum debut over a returning All-American to earn his second ACC Wrestler of the Week of his young career.

🤔 HOKIE TRIVIA

On Tuesday, ESPN announced that Dick Vitale will return to Cassell Coliseum this weekend when Virginia Tech hosts #4 Duke.

This will mark the first time since 2011 that Vitale has announced a game at Cassell. That matchup was against none other than the Duke Blue Devils who were ranked #1 at the time.

What was the score of that game back in 2011?

Got a guess?

Scroll to the bottom and find out!

📆 THE DAYS AHEAD

Thursday, January 29
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Pitt @ 6pm l Tickets l ACC Network Extra l Live Stats
🎙️ Tech Talk Live @ 6 pm l Listen (Pre-Recorded)

Friday, January 30
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Western Carolina @ 2pm
🤼 #7 Wrestling at #8 NC State @ 7pm l ACC Network
👟 Track & Field at Liberty Brant Tolsma Elite Invite

Saturday, January 31st
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. #4 Duke @ 12pm l SOLD OUT (Buy on SeatGeek) l ESPN l Live Stats
👟 Track & Field at Liberty Brant Tolsma Elite Invite

Sunday, February 1st
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Kennesaw State @ 10am
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Virginia @ 2pm l Tickets l ACC Network Extra l Live Stats
(Smithfield Commonwealth Clash)
🎾 Men’s Tennis at Princeton @ 3pm
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. UNCG @ 4pm
⛳️ Women’s Golf at UNCG Advance Golf Partners Collegiate (Palm City, Fla.)

🤝 SPREAD THE WORD

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🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Virginia Tech 64, #1 Duke 60

🦃 Have a great one!