Charlottesville, Va - Another day, another late-game disappointment for Virginia Tech, which has stacked up "good" losses, but can’t seem to turn any into wins.
The Hokies' losses against Wake Forest, Stanford, SMU, NC State, Miami, North Carolin and even Duke were relatively tight down the stretch. Eventually, "good” losses stop being "good.” They just turn into losses, and the Hokies inability to close games across conference play is likely the reason they will find themselves hosting the NIT rather than the big dance.
Virginia (27-4, 15-3) outlasted Virginia Tech (19-12, 8-10 ACC) 76-72 in John Paul Jones Arena behind a balanced offensive attack to split the season series with the Hokies.
It was a game of runs and Virginia delivered the final blow down the stretch.
After a pair of uncharacteristic missed free three throws from Ben Hammond, Dallin Hall churned the clock before finding Ugonna Onyenso (16 points), who banged a three on a pick-and-pop right in front of his own bench. Onyenso hadn’t hit a three pointer since Virginia’s February 3 win over Pittsburgh. He potted two on Saturday.
The following play, Neoklis Avdalas (9 points) threw it away, trying to thread the needle to a rolling Tobi Lawal, forcing the Hokies to turn to the foul game. Two Sam Lewis (15 points) free throws were enough to give Virginia a 72-63 lead with 1:26 remaining and essentially seal the deal.
While Virginia Tech was able to rally and make the second installment of the commonwealth clash interesting, it spotted Virginia a 19-3 lead in less than seven minutes.
UVA, seeking revenge for its triple overtime loss in Blacksburg to close 2025, came out unconscious from long range, hitting five of its first seven attempts. Onyenso capped off the run with a top-of-the-key triple.
Virginia led by as many as 17 and held its lead for 38 minutes and 41 seconds. Virginia Tech started the second half 9-for-11 from the field and tied the game at 51 with 10:56 remaining. However, the Cavaliers once again had a response - this time from the interior.
Hall found Onyenso for the baseline alley-oop slam, before dropping a dime to Sam Lewis on the backdoor cut. Two consecutive close-range buckets from Malik Thomas finished off an 8-0 Virginia run to reclaim a 59-51 lead with 7:38 to go.
Perhaps what makes UVA most dangerous is its depth, and that was on full display on Saturday. Thomas and Onyenso led the way with 16 points each, while Lewis, who had scored a combined two points over the previous two games, dropped 15. The steady Thijs De Ridder shot just 4-for-11 but finished with 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
Virginia registered 27 bench points compared to just 10 for Virginia Tech.
Hammond once again leveled up for his in-state rival, dropping a game-high 21 points while throwing five assists, grabbing four boards and picking up five steals. Hansberry and Bedford joined him in double figures with 12 a piece.
Suspect long-range shooting held the Hokies back, even in an otherwise excellent offensive second half. They shot just 8-for-32 from deep as even sharpshooter Jaden Schutt couldn’t find his touch (0-for-7). Avdalas, who has recently found his touch, was efficient inside of the arc, but also came up empty from long range on four attempts.
Tech, which sits as Joe Lunardi’s third team out, desperately needs a resume-boosting win and now has to wait for the ACC tournament for a last-ditch opportunity. As the No. 12 seed, it awaits Wake Forest in the first round of the ACC tournament and will match up with Clemson on Wednesday, assuming a win over the Deacons.
Virginia clinched the No. 2 seed in the ACC and therefore earned the coveted double bye in Charlotte.
Both Commonwealth universities are tournament-caliber, but it remains to be seen if the Hokies have what it takes to join the Wahoos in March Madness.
Two chances to make the Big Dance. Slim and none! Neo is a bust.