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  1. 6 a.m.Cloudy.62°
  2. NoonCloudy.67°
  3. 6 p.m.Showers.65°
  4. MidnightCloudy.59°

Sunrise 6:50 a.m. Sunset 5:19 p.m.

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  1. 6 a.m.Cloudy.62°
  2. NoonCloudy.67°
  3. 6 p.m.Showers.65°
  4. MidnightCloudy.59°
  1. TodayShowers. High 69° Low 50°
  2. FriPartly cloudy. High 66° Low 40°
  3. SatClear. High 51° Low 34°
  4. SunPartly cloudy. High 57° Low 36°
  5. MonClear. High 62° Low 35°

Sunrise 6:50 a.m. Sunset 5:19 p.m.

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Today’s edition · Thurs., Nov. 5

Hokies rout Coppin State 88-54 in the basketball opener

Plus, tight end Ja'Ricous Hairston is up for the Burlsworth Trophy and a Prices Fork wrestling facility is a go.

The Daily Blacksburg team2 stories16 sources5 min read

Hokies BasketballTop story

Virginia Tech opens the basketball season with an 88-⁠54 rout of Coppin State

Virginia Tech beat Coppin State in the opener

  • Coppin State54
    Virginia Tech88 (won)
    FinalSeason opener for both teams at Cassell Coliseum

Tuesday night's opener at was a blowout. The Hokies beat Coppin State 88-54, and 24 forced turnovers turned into 26 points. The Tech Lunch Pail's recap lists the final as 86-52.

Ben Hammond, the 5-foot-11 junior point guard, had 20 points, eight assists and a career-high seven steals, one shy of the school record. No Hokie had seven steals since Jamon Gordon did it in a 2007 NCAA Tournament game. Asked which guard is the point guard, Hammond and Jaylen Curry both said, “We both are.”

  • Jaylen Curry: 19 points, one assist, six turnovers in debut
  • Amani Hansberry: 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists
  • Tyler Johnson: 13 points, seven rebounds in 21 minutes

“I don't know in 41 years of coaching that I've had a point guard with one assist and six turnovers. That's disgusting.”

Mike Young, Virginia Tech coach

The Hokies host Mercer tonight at 7 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum in a non-conference game.

Ben Hammond and Jaylen Curry led the Hokies in the opener

20
points for Ben Hammond
7
steals for Hammond, one shy of the school record
24
Coppin State turnovers forced
19
points for Jaylen Curry in his debut

Hokies Football

Virginia Tech tight end Ja'Ricous Hairston is a Burlsworth Trophy nominee

If you follow Hokies football, here's a name to know. Senior tight end Ja'Ricous Hairston is a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, which recognizes the most outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk-on.

Hairston has 6 catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns this season. Coach James Franklin brought up his name unprompted a couple of weeks ago while listing players outside Que'Sean Brown and Luke Reynolds who could get targets.

81receiving yards for Hairston this season

His 6 catches have gone for 81 yards and two touchdowns.

Source: WSLS

“This season has been the most fun season I've had in college football.”

Ja'Ricous Hairston
  • Hairston: 6-foot-2 senior from Bassett
  • Award honors Brandon Burlsworth, an Arkansas walk-on and All-American
  • Also nominated: UVA punter Daniel Sparks

The Hokies return Friday night at SMU after an open week.

Hairston's trophy news comes over the next month

  1. Nov. 6Virginia Tech plays at SMU on Friday night.
  2. Nov. 17 finalists are scheduled to be announced.
  3. Dec. 7The winner is to be revealed in Bentonville, Arkansas.

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News Notes · More

Wrestling

Montgomery County supervisors approved a special use permit on a split vote Monday, Oct. 26, for a youth wrestling facility. Techy Athletics plans a 6,000-square-foot building on a 12.8-acre site it owns near Magnolia Lane and Coal Hollow Road. The project is at 4820 Prices Fork Rd. Cardinal NewsMontgomery County Virginia News

Four supervisors outvoted three on the wrestling facility

Montgomery County Board of Supervisors vote, Oct. 26

4–3

Passed

Special use permit for Techy Athletics' wrestling facility on Prices Fork Road

Yes 4

  • DeMottsChairwoman
  • FijalkowskiVice Chairman
  • King
  • Grafsky

No 3

  • Kitts
  • Biggs
  • Kiran

Source: Cardinal News

View as table
MemberSeatVote
April DeMottsChairwomanYes
Steve FijalkowskiVice ChairmanYes
Todd KingYes
Anthony GrafskyYes
Derek KittsNo
Mary BiggsNo
Gunin KiranNo

Radford ER

LewisGale Hospital Montgomery will invest $18 million in an 11,000-square-foot freestanding emergency room near Tyler Avenue and Rock Road, with an opening targeted for early 2028. Radford hasn't had an in-city ER since 1999. CEO Michael Ehrat addressed Radford City Council at its most recent meeting on Oct. 28. WSLSMontgomery County Virginia News

Workforce

The awarded a $2 million grant to the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area Consortium. It will support training for 450 people and help 75 businesses access a developed workforce or related services. PCPatriot & Southwest Times

Volleyball

Auburn beat Galax 3-1 in Wednesday night's Region 1C semifinal to return to the region championship and the Class 1 State Tournament. East Montgomery also advanced to the final. WSLS

Pumpkin

A Blacksburg couple, David and Gwen Harris, grew the top pumpkin in Virginia, at 1,861.8 pounds. At the North Carolina fair it placed second to a West Virginia pumpkin that weighed 2,123 pounds. Montgomery County Virginia News

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The Wrap

Yelling "Enter Sandman" with 65,000-plus fans at Lane Stadium is one thing, but the Hokie Pep Band gets a different vibe at , which seats about 8,000. "The atmosphere is much more intimate," says alto player Meghan Bagby, and "often the cheers we start spread to the crowd." Hear it for yourself when the Hokies play at home this week. Cue the drumline.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Hokie football heads to SMU Friday; basketball opens with a rout

Read yesterday’s edition

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Every source in this edition16 links · 11 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. Daily News-Recorddnronline.com
  3. PCPatriot & Southwest Timespcpatriot.com
  4. The Tech Lunch Pailtechlunchpail.com
  5. hokiesports.comhokiesports.com
  6. WSLSwsls.com
  7. The News Virginiannewsvirginian.com
  8. The Danville Register and Beegodanriver.com
  9. Cardinal Newscardinalnews.org
  10. Montgomery County Virginia Newsmontcova.com
  11. WSLSwsls.com
  12. Montgomery County Virginia Newsmontcova.com
  13. PCPatriot & Southwest Timespcpatriot.com
  14. WSLSwsls.com
  15. Montgomery County Virginia Newsmontcova.com
  16. Blacksburg events calendardailyblacksburg.com

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Daily Blacksburgto me · Thurs., Nov. 56:00 a.m.

Hokies rout Coppin State 88-54 in the basketball opener

Plus, tight end Ja'Ricous Hairston is up for the Burlsworth Trophy and a Prices Fork wrestling facility is a go.

The TLDR

  1. Hokies beat Coppin State 88-54 in the basketball opener
  2. Hokies host Mercer tonight at 7 p.m. at Cassell
  3. Ja'Ricous Hairston is a Burlsworth Trophy nominee
Read this edition

More stories this week

From Daily Blacksburg’s other editions

All the news

Around Blacksburg

From Richmond Times-Dispatch, WSLS and 5 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news
  1. Richmond Times-Dispatch51 minutes ago

    Virginia Tech offensive line seeks consistent, boring play at SMU, on Richmond Times-Dispatch

    Being boring means executing the fundamentals. That type of execution is what Matt Moore is striving for the Hokies to showcase on a weekly basis. He’s seen glimpses, particularly in late-game situations when the unit displays its gritty tenacity.

  2. WSLS6 hours ago

    Auburn, East Mont volleyball advance to Region 1C Final, on WSLS

    Lady Mustangs punch a ticket to the state tournament for the first time ever.

  3. Augusta Free Press13 hours ago

    Broadway, Virginia Tech grad had a Rocky Mountain summer with the Rockies, on Augusta Free Press

    The Colorado Rockies had several connections to Virginia Tech prior to the 2026 season.

  4. Roanoke Times13 hours ago

    Leslie Harwood, Joel Goodhart win uncontested Blacksburg council seats, on Roanoke Times

    Leslie Harwood and Joel Goodhart won the two open seats on Blacksburg Town Council in an uncontested special election.

  5. PCPatriot & Southwest Times14 hours ago

    Griffith Announces $2 Million ARC Grant for Regional Workforce Development, on PCPatriot & Southwest Times

    Wednesday, November 4, 2026 – The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area Consortium, whose

    Also reported byNew River Valley News

  6. WSLS14 hours ago

    Virginia Tech’s Ja’Ricous Hairston Named Burlsworth Trophy Nominee, on WSLS

    The Bassett native has seen his role increase since he arrived in Blacksburg.

    Also reported byThe News Virginian