Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball Falls 91-59 to North Carolina
The Virginia Tech Hokies endured a difficult night on Tuesday, March 5, 2025, as they fell 91-59 to the No. 7-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill. In what was their final regular-season game, the Hokies struggled on both ends of the court, allowing UNC to dominate from start to finish.
From the opening tip, the Tar Heels established control. North Carolina’s high-paced offense, led by star guard RJ Davis, overwhelmed Virginia Tech’s defense. Davis, a strong candidate for ACC Player of the Year, finished with 21 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds, helping the Tar Heels close the regular season with a strong statement win as they gear up for the ACC Tournament.
For Virginia Tech, offensive rhythm was hard to find. The Hokies shot just 37% from the field and 26% from three-point range. Leading scorer Sean Pedulla was held to only 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting, while Hunter Cattoor added 10 points but struggled to find open looks against UNC’s aggressive perimeter defense. The Hokies turned the ball over 13 times, which led to 18 Tar Heel points in transition.
Meanwhile, North Carolina dominated the glass, outrebounding Virginia Tech 44-29. Armando Bacot had another double-double performance with 15 points and 12 rebounds, controlling the paint and limiting the Hokies’ second-chance opportunities. The Tar Heels shot an efficient 54% from the floor and hit 10 three-pointers, making it nearly impossible for Virginia Tech to keep up.
By halftime, North Carolina led 44-25, and any hopes of a second-half Hokies comeback quickly vanished as the Tar Heels opened the second half on a 15-4 run. Head coach Mike Young’s squad never found answers defensively, and frustration mounted as the game slipped further away.
The loss drops Virginia Tech to 17-14 overall and 9-11 in ACC play. With this defeat, the Hokies now look toward the ACC Tournament, needing a deep run to keep any NCAA Tournament hopes alive. They will enter the tournament as a lower seed, which means a difficult path ahead through several top-tier teams.
On the other hand, North Carolina improved to 25-6 overall and 17-3 in the ACC, securing the regular-season conference title. Hubert Davis’s team has solidified itself as a top contender, not just in the ACC, but nationally, as March Madness approaches. With experienced leadership and depth on both ends of the court, the Tar Heels are eyeing a high seed in the NCAA Tournament and a potential Final Four run.
For Virginia Tech, the focus now shifts to regrouping quickly. They’ll need standout performances from Pedulla, Cattoor, and the rest of the roster if they hope to extend their season beyond the ACC Tournament. The team has shown flashes of potential throughout the year, but time is running out to put it all together when it matters most.
Next up, the Hokies will await their first-round opponent in the ACC Tournament, which begins next week in Washington, D.C.
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