CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 21 points as No. 16 Virginia Tech Hokies opened the Charleston Classic with a 73-64 victory over Ball State Cardinals.
The Hokies (2-0) watched a 16-point lead slip to 49-44 midway through the second half before going on a 14-4 run to take control.
Virginia Tech will play the winner of the next game, Alabama vs. Northeastern, in Friday's semifinals.
Tayler Persons led Ball State (1-2) with 21 points. The Cardinals will play the Alabama-Northeastern loser on Friday.
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1st Half
BALL
Cardinals
29
VT
Hokies
43
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by Virginia Tech
19:50
Ahmed Hill missed driving layup
19:48
Defensive rebound by Kyle Mallers
19:23
Personal foul on Nickeil Alexander-Walker
19:17
Lost ball turnover on Trey Moses, stolen by Justin Robinson
18:58
+3
Wabissa Bede made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kerry Blackshear Jr.
0-3
18:26
Kyle Mallers missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:24
Defensive rebound by Wabissa Bede
18:14
+2
Nickeil Alexander-Walker made driving layup
0-5
17:46
Jumpball received by Ball State
17:43
Tayler Persons missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:41
Offensive rebound by Kyle Mallers
17:20
Shooting foul on Kerry Blackshear Jr.
17:20
+1
K.J. Walton made 1st of 2 free throws
1-5
17:20
+1
K.J. Walton made 2nd of 2 free throws
2-5
17:09
+3
Ahmed Hill made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Justin Robinson
2-8
16:50
Shooting foul on Wabissa Bede
16:50
+1
K.J. Walton made 1st of 2 free throws
3-8
16:50
+1
K.J. Walton made 2nd of 2 free throws
4-8
16:27
P.J. Horne missed layup
16:25
Defensive rebound by Kyle Mallers
16:19
Kyle Mallers missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:17
Defensive rebound by Ahmed Hill
16:13
Personal foul on K.J. Walton
15:48
+3
Wabissa Bede made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ahmed Hill
4-11
15:25
Brachen Hazen missed layup, blocked by P.J. Horne
15:23
Offensive rebound by Tahjai Teague
15:23
Tahjai Teague missed layup
15:21
Offensive rebound by Ball State
15:13
+3
Tayler Persons made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kyle Mallers
7-11
14:50
Ty Outlaw missed 3-pt. jump shot, blocked by Tahjai Teague
14:48
Defensive rebound by Tahjai Teague
14:40
Tahjai Teague missed layup
14:38
Offensive rebound by Tayler Persons
14:35
+2
Tayler Persons made turnaround jump shot
9-11
14:22
Wabissa Bede missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:20
Defensive rebound by Ball State
14:02
+3
Kyle Mallers made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tayler Persons
12-11
13:43
Justin Robinson missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:41
Offensive rebound by Virginia Tech
13:41
Personal foul on Tayler Persons
13:38
+2
Kerry Blackshear Jr. made layup, assist by Justin Robinson
12-13
13:12
Brachen Hazen missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:10
Offensive rebound by Brachen Hazen
13:08
Shooting foul on P.J. Horne
13:08
Brachen Hazen missed 1st of 2 free throws
13:08
+1
Brachen Hazen made 2nd of 2 free throws
13-13
12:54
Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:52
Offensive rebound by Kerry Blackshear Jr.
12:51
+2
Kerry Blackshear Jr. made dunk
13-15
12:38
Personal foul on P.J. Horne
12:31
Out of bounds turnover on Josh Thompson
12:10
+2
Isaiah Wilkins made layup, assist by Nickeil Alexander-Walker
13-17
11:50
Lost ball turnover on Tayler Persons, stolen by Justin Robinson
11:38
Justin Robinson missed layup, blocked by Trey Moses
11:36
Offensive rebound by Virginia Tech
11:27
Ahmed Hill missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:25
Defensive rebound by K.J. Walton
11:05
Tayler Persons missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:03
Offensive rebound by Tahjai Teague
10:55
+2
Kyle Mallers made layup
15-17
10:35
Kerry Blackshear Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:33
Defensive rebound by Trey Moses
10:28
+2
Tayler Persons made driving layup
17-17
10:07
Lost ball turnover on Justin Robinson, stolen by Tahjai Teague
10:02
+2
Tahjai Teague made layup, assist by Tayler Persons
19-17
9:31
Justin Robinson missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:29
Defensive rebound by Trey Moses
9:24
+3
Tayler Persons made 3-pt. jump shot
22-17
9:03
Personal foul on Tahjai Teague
9:01
Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:59
Defensive rebound by Kyle Mallers
8:53
K.J. Walton missed layup, blocked by Ty Outlaw
8:51
Defensive rebound by Virginia Tech
8:44
+2
Nickeil Alexander-Walker made layup
22-19
8:44
Shooting foul on Kyle Mallers
8:44
+1
Nickeil Alexander-Walker made free throw
22-20
8:22
Personal foul on Justin Robinson
8:22
Commercial timeout called
8:08
Defensive rebound by Nickeil Alexander-Walker
8:01
Ty Outlaw missed 3-pt. jump shot
7:59
Defensive rebound by Zach Gunn
7:55
Offensive foul on Tahjai Teague
7:55
Turnover on Tahjai Teague
7:40
+2
Kerry Blackshear Jr. made layup, assist by Wabissa Bede
22-22
7:17
Kyle Mallers missed 3-pt. jump shot
7:15
Defensive rebound by Wabissa Bede
6:52
Shooting foul on Austin Nehls
6:52
+1
Justin Robinson made 1st of 2 free throws
22-23
6:52
+1
Justin Robinson made 2nd of 2 free throws
22-24
6:35
Personal foul on Wabissa Bede
6:35
+1
Tayler Persons made 1st of 2 free throws
23-24
6:35
+1
Tayler Persons made 2nd of 2 free throws
24-24
6:23
+2
Kerry Blackshear Jr. made driving layup, assist by Justin Robinson
24-26
5:59
Lost ball turnover on Austin Nehls, stolen by Justin Robinson
5:52
+2
Kerry Blackshear Jr. made dunk, assist by Nickeil Alexander-Walker
24-28
5:31
Traveling violation turnover on Tayler Persons
5:31
Unsportsmanlike technical foul on Kerry Blackshear Jr.
5:31
Unsportsmanlike technical foul on Tayler Persons
5:13
+2
Nickeil Alexander-Walker made layup, assist by Ty Outlaw
24-30
5:06
+3
Kyle Mallers made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tayler Persons
27-30
4:46
Justin Robinson missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:44
Defensive rebound by Trey Moses
4:32
Kyle Mallers missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:30
Defensive rebound by Isaiah Wilkins
4:21
Ahmed Hill missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:19
Defensive rebound by Zach Gunn
4:08
Zach Gunn missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:06
Defensive rebound by Ty Outlaw
3:50
+2
Ahmed Hill made floating jump shot
27-32
3:33
Lost ball turnover on Kyle Mallers, stolen by Ahmed Hill
3:27
Lost ball turnover on Justin Robinson
3:10
K.J. Walton missed jump shot
3:08
Defensive rebound by Nickeil Alexander-Walker
3:01
+3
Nickeil Alexander-Walker made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Justin Robinson
27-35
2:35
K.J. Walton missed jump shot
2:33
Defensive rebound by Isaiah Wilkins
2:24
+3
Justin Robinson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Isaiah Wilkins
27-38
1:59
Ishmael El-Amin missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:57
Defensive rebound by Ahmed Hill
1:50
Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed driving layup
1:48
Defensive rebound by K.J. Walton
1:39
+2
Trey Moses made layup
29-38
1:12
Isaiah Wilkins missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:10
Defensive rebound by Ishmael El-Amin
58.0
Brachen Hazen missed layup, blocked by Ty Outlaw
56.0
Defensive rebound by Ty Outlaw
35.0
+2
Ty Outlaw made driving layup
29-40
7.0
Tayler Persons missed jump shot
5.0
Defensive rebound by Isaiah Wilkins
0.0
+3
Justin Robinson made 3-pt. jump shot
29-43
0.0
End of period
2nd Half
BALL
Cardinals
35
VT
Hokies
30
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:42
+2
Nickeil Alexander-Walker made driving layup
29-45
19:15
Personal foul on Ahmed Hill
19:09
Shooting foul on Justin Robinson
19:09
+1
Tayler Persons made 1st of 2 free throws
30-45
19:09
+1
Tayler Persons made 2nd of 2 free throws
31-45
18:54
Ahmed Hill missed layup, blocked by Tahjai Teague
18:52
Defensive rebound by Tahjai Teague
18:41
+3
Kyle Mallers made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tayler Persons
34-45
18:25
Lost ball turnover on Justin Robinson, stolen by Trey Moses
18:17
+3
Kyle Mallers made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by K.J. Walton
37-45
18:02
Justin Robinson missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:00
Defensive rebound by Tahjai Teague
17:45
Traveling violation turnover on Kyle Mallers
17:28
Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed layup
17:26
Defensive rebound by Trey Moses
17:15
Personal foul on Kerry Blackshear Jr.
17:09
Personal foul on P.J. Horne
16:59
Personal foul on Ahmed Hill
16:58
Trey Moses missed jump shot
16:56
Offensive rebound by Tahjai Teague
16:35
+2
Tahjai Teague made dunk
39-45
16:18
Justin Robinson missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:18
Offensive rebound by Wabissa Bede
16:08
Bad pass turnover on Nickeil Alexander-Walker
15:53
Tayler Persons missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:51
Defensive rebound by Nickeil Alexander-Walker
15:44
Wabissa Bede missed jump shot
15:42
Defensive rebound by Tayler Persons
15:29
Ishmael El-Amin missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:27
Offensive rebound by Trey Moses
15:17
Kyle Mallers missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:15
Defensive rebound by Ahmed Hill
15:04
Justin Robinson missed layup, blocked by Trey Moses
15:02
Offensive rebound by Justin Robinson
14:56
+2
Justin Robinson made dunk
39-47
14:49
Out of bounds turnover on Tahjai Teague
14:37
Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed jump shot, blocked by Tahjai Teague
14:35
Offensive rebound by Nickeil Alexander-Walker
14:28
+2
Justin Robinson made driving layup
39-49
14:14
Bad pass turnover on Trey Moses, stolen by Justin Robinson
14:07
Out of bounds turnover on Ty Outlaw
13:45
Tayler Persons missed jump shot
13:41
Offensive rebound by Tayler Persons
13:41
Jumpball received by Ball State
13:32
Personal foul on Justin Robinson
13:22
Brachen Hazen missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:20
Offensive rebound by Tahjai Teague
13:04
+2
Tayler Persons made finger-roll layup
41-49
13:04
Shooting foul on Ty Outlaw
13:04
+1
Tayler Persons made free throw
42-49
12:52
Out of bounds turnover on Ahmed Hill
12:32
+2
K.J. Walton made layup
44-49
12:08
+2
Kerry Blackshear Jr. made layup, assist by Nickeil Alexander-Walker
44-51
11:47
Lost ball turnover on K.J. Walton, stolen by Ahmed Hill
11:42
Shooting foul on Tayler Persons
11:42
+1
Ahmed Hill made 1st of 2 free throws
44-52
11:42
+1
Ahmed Hill made 2nd of 2 free throws
44-53
11:27
+2
Tayler Persons made jump shot
46-53
11:08
Isaiah Wilkins missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:06
Defensive rebound by Tayler Persons
10:59
Personal foul on Isaiah Wilkins
10:59
Ishmael El-Amin missed free throw
10:59
Defensive rebound by Nickeil Alexander-Walker
10:45
+2
Nickeil Alexander-Walker made driving layup
46-55
10:35
+2
Tahjai Teague made jump shot, assist by Tayler Persons
48-55
10:10
Kerry Blackshear Jr. missed hook shot
10:08
Defensive rebound by Tahjai Teague
9:46
Tayler Persons missed jump shot
9:44
Defensive rebound by Kerry Blackshear Jr.
9:30
+3
Nickeil Alexander-Walker made 3-pt. jump shot
48-58
9:18
Personal foul on Ahmed Hill
9:18
+1
Tahjai Teague made 1st of 2 free throws
49-58
9:18
Tahjai Teague missed 2nd of 2 free throws
9:18
Defensive rebound by Nickeil Alexander-Walker
9:02
Kicked ball violation on Ball State
8:58
Lost ball turnover on Justin Robinson, stolen by Ishmael El-Amin
8:49
K.J. Walton missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:47
Defensive rebound by Isaiah Wilkins
8:33
Justin Robinson missed jump shot
8:31
Offensive rebound by Kerry Blackshear Jr.
8:28
Shooting foul on Trey Moses
8:28
+1
Kerry Blackshear Jr. made 1st of 2 free throws
49-59
8:28
+1
Kerry Blackshear Jr. made 2nd of 2 free throws
49-60
8:14
Traveling violation turnover on K.J. Walton
8:03
Shooting foul on K.J. Walton
8:03
Justin Robinson missed 1st of 2 free throws
8:03
+1
Justin Robinson made 2nd of 2 free throws
49-61
7:40
Bad pass turnover on Kyle Mallers, stolen by Nickeil Alexander-Walker
7:30
+2
Ahmed Hill made dunk, assist by Justin Robinson
49-63
7:04
Out of bounds turnover on Tahjai Teague
6:51
+2
Nickeil Alexander-Walker made finger-roll layup
49-65
6:36
+3
Ishmael El-Amin made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kyle Mallers
52-65
6:17
+2
Justin Robinson made driving layup
52-67
6:07
Kyle Mallers missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:05
Defensive rebound by Isaiah Wilkins
5:40
Kerry Blackshear Jr. missed layup
5:38
Offensive rebound by Kerry Blackshear Jr.
5:37
+2
Kerry Blackshear Jr. made dunk
52-69
5:21
+3
Kyle Mallers made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Trey Moses
55-69
5:00
Jumpball received by Virginia Tech
4:57
Ahmed Hill missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:55
Defensive rebound by Kyle Mallers
4:39
Kyle Mallers missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:26
Justin Robinson missed layup, blocked by Trey Moses
4:25
Offensive rebound by Virginia Tech
4:21
Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:19
Offensive rebound by Justin Robinson
3:57
Isaiah Wilkins missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:55
Offensive rebound by Kerry Blackshear Jr.
3:37
Kerry Blackshear Jr. missed layup
3:35
Offensive rebound by Kerry Blackshear Jr.
3:10
Ahmed Hill missed jump shot
3:09
Offensive rebound by Kerry Blackshear Jr.
3:09
Personal foul on Brachen Hazen
2:41
+2
Nickeil Alexander-Walker made jump shot
55-71
2:32
+2
Tayler Persons made jump shot
57-71
2:02
+2
Kerry Blackshear Jr. made reverse layup, assist by Justin Robinson
57-73
1:49
Ishmael El-Amin missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:47
Offensive rebound by Kyle Mallers
1:47
+2
Kyle Mallers made tip-in
59-73
1:17
Isaiah Wilkins missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:15
Defensive rebound by Kyle Mallers
1:08
K.J. Walton missed layup
1:06
Defensive rebound by Ahmed Hill
58.0
Turnover on Virginia Tech
40.0
+2
Blake Huggins made hook shot, assist by Ishmael El-Amin
61-73
12.0
Lost ball turnover on Jonathan Kabongo, stolen by Ishmael El-Amin
4.0
+3
Ishmael El-Amin made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Josh Thompson
