Ben Hammond scored a career-high 32 points and Jaylen Curry had nine of his 25 points in overtime as Virginia Tech edged Iowa 93-88 on Tuesday night in Sioux City, Iowa.
Virginia Tech forced 14 turnovers in the neutral-court game to improve to 3-0 while handing Iowa (2-1) its first defeat.
The Hokies outscored the Hawkeyes 14-9 in the extra session. Tyler Johnson made two free throws with 8 seconds to go to put Virginia Tech ahead by two. Iowa’s Cooper Koch missed a 3-pointer before Curry sealed the result with two more foul shots.
Both teams bemoaned squandering chances to seize control in the closing stages of regulation.
Iowa’s Cam Manyawu fouled Curry on a 3-pointer with 6.1 seconds left and the game tied at 78. Curry missed the first two attempts but made the third to give the Hokies a one-point edge.
Hammond fouled out moments later, giving Ty’Reek Coleman a chance to win the game, but Coleman split two foul shots and the contest went to overtime.
Hammond was 9-for-16 from the floor while swishing each of his 11 attempts from the free-throw line.
Koch scored 26 points and Isaia Howard notched a double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds for the Hawkeyes. Coleman (20 points) and Kael Combs (10) also finished in double figures.
Amani Hansberry chipped in 16 points for the Hokies while Isaiah Elohim had 12 points and six boards.
Iowa finished plus-14 on the glass.
Center Andrew McKeever, a 7-foot-3 Saint Mary’s transfer, collected five points and five rebounds in his Iowa debut. McKeever, who has fought back issues in the early season, played 10 minutes.
Virginia Tech led 41-40 at halftime. The Hawkeyes stayed afloat despite committing nine first-half turnovers against just two assists.
A Hammond trey provided the Hokies with a 19-11 advantage at the 10:58 mark of the first half. Iowa rallied behind an 8-2 run later in the half, capped by a Koch basket that tied the game at the 3:22 mark.
The Hawkeyes took the lead before the Hokies regained the edge with a 7-2 run before the break. Hammond provided every Virginia Tech point, including a buzzer-beating 3.
The Hokies have won each of their five meetings with the Hawkeyes.