ANCHORAGE ? Freshman guard Malcolm Delaney came off the bench to score 18 points Wednesday, boosting Virginia Tech to a 69-52 victory over Eastern Washington in the first round of the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout at Sullivan Arena.

The Hokies (2-0) pulled away midway through the first half with a 17-3 run that started with a Delaney three-pointer. Guard Hank Thorns netted 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting and forward Jeff Allen had 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds as the Hokies had five players score in double figures.

The Eagles (1-4) were led by 18 points (5-7 FG, 3-3 3FG, 5-5 FT) from freshman guard Trey Gross. Gary Gibson chipped in 10 points off the bench for the Big Sky Conference squad.

Delaney, from Baltimore, Md., shot 6 of 9 from the floor (4-6 3FG) and grabbed four rebounds to earn Carrs/Safeway Player of the Game honors.

The Hokies advance to play 22nd-ranked Butler in Friday's 5:30 p.m. AST semifinal (ESPN360). EWU drops into the consolation bracket, where it will face Michigan at noon Friday.