First year Virginia Tech coach Mike Young, the former Wofford coach, enjoyed a double celebration Monday night in the Hokies’ 67-60 win at Clemson. For his “homecoming” of sorts, Young earned his 300th career coaching victory and his first ever over the Tigers in eight tries. The difference in a tight game was Virginia Tech had the best player on the floor in Landers Nolley and Clemson’s young players felt the pressure of the moment in the second half and didn’t respond well.

A few of the keys in Virginia Tech’s victory

• Nolley, a redshirt freshman, was sensational in his college debut with 30 points and 5 rebounds.
• Wabissa Bede came up with the defensive play of the game, a block on Al-Amir Dawes three-point attempt with Tech up by 3 and :45 to play. The Hokies converted the block to a layup and a 5 point lead that took the steam out of the Tigers.
• The game was tied at 57 with 1:11 to play and Clemson was outscored 10-3 from that point. The Tigers made just 4 of their final 17 shots. They shot only 23.3% in the second half and only 1-14 from three. And they were 8-14 at the line in the second half.
• Brad Brownell lamented his team’s missed scoring opportunities inside in the second half and the shot chart revealed 8 misses in and around the lane.
• Tech was only marginally better than Clemson in the second half shooting 32% but the Hokies made 3 three-pointers and were 14-18 at the line.
• Aamir Simms had a double-double for Clemson with 12 points and 15 rebounds, the first of his career. John Newman led the Tigers in scoring with a career high 15 points.
• Clemson returns to action at home Thursday night against Presbyterian.
• Final Box Score

Brad Brownell postgame

Aamir Simms postgame

Mike Young postgame