BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) Carlos Dixon scored 21 points as Virginia Tech opened its first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference with an 81-58 nonconference victory over Loyola, Md., Friday night.
The Hokies raced to a 15-1 advantage and led by as many as 18 points in the first half. Loyola (0-1) used a 17-7 run to narrow the lead to 34-26 at the half, but Virginia Tech opened the second half with an 11-2 run.
It was the 15th consecutive home-opening victory for the Hokies.
Dixon, who sat out last season with a broken bone in his foot, hit three 3-pointers. Freshman Deron Washington scored 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting, including six dunks, and Coleman Collins added 11 points.
Freddie Stanback scored 16 points and Shane James added 10 for the Greyhounds, who committed 27 turnovers.
Virginia Tech shot 51 percent from the floor to Loyola's 42 percent, but the Hokies were outrebounded 36-34.
