For the second time in as many weeks, the Commonwealth Clash came down to the final shot.
In Charlottesville, it was Andrew Rohde and the Cavaliers who couldn’t get the game-winning shot to go. This time, it was Ben Bunrham and the Hokies who failed to send the game to overtime on a botched last possession.
“A kid fell down (so) we were at an advantage,” Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young explained following the game. “In hindsight I may have called timeout. The decision for me at that moment was playing against a set defense. We had a bit of a broken floor.”
Despite having a five on four if they hurried, the Hokies had to settle for a contested step-back three from Burnham. The shot didn’t fall, and the Virginia Cavaliers (13-12, 6-8) knocked off their rival Virginia Tech (11-14, 6-8) 73-70.
The Hokies entered the night looking for their first sweep over the Wahoos since 2010, while Virginia chased its first win in Cassell Coliseum since 2020. With so much at stake, including seeding for a potential bye in the ACC tournament, this was a game filled with emotions.
“When he (Taine Murray) dove on the floor, it showed how much he wanted it,” Virginia head coach Ron Sanchez said of his senior who had never previously won in Cassell. “I think he broke his nose on that play.”
The intensity even spilled over into the tunnel as four players - two from each team - received technical fouls for their involvement in a scuffle during halftime.
Despite the nail-biting finish, UVA was in control of the game almost all the way through, leading for over 35 minutes.
The Cavaliers jumped out to an early lead, making 56% of their shots and 47% of their triples in the first half. Running their classic blocker-mover offense, UVA had assists on 12 of its 15 first half buckets including seven assists from Andrew Rohde.
Virginia Tech, shooting below 35% from the floor at halftime, was fortunate to only be trailing by seven after a surge to end the first half. Through the first 20 minutes, it was all Tobi Lawal, scoring 19 of the Hokies 33 first half points. No other Hokie had more three points at the break.
The second half was almost the exact opposite as Virginia Tech outshot the Wahoos by about 15%, and UVA became almost completely reliant on one player - Isaac McKneely.
Every time the crowd got involved and it seemed as if the Hokies were ready to take over, McKneely would curl around a screen and knock down a ridiculous three ball.
“I don’t have a great matchup (for McKneely),” Young said. “(I) needed a bit more size and length on Isaac. Ben (Hammond) and Brandon (Rechsteiner) worked their tails off and I couldn’t ask for more from them.”
Despite the defensive pressure from both Hokie point guards, McKneely lit Virginia Tech up for 22 points, including six made threes.
“Every play is for him,” Hokies star forward Tobi Lawal noted. “They’re looking for him all 30 seconds of the shot clock.”
Despite McKneely’s best efforts, the Hokies clawed back into the game behind elite play from their duo of starting freshmen in Ben Hammond and Tyler Johnson, who combined for the Hokies last 12 points.
After the game, Mike Young had lots of praise for his freshman backcourt duo.
“They’ve played a lot of ball now,” Young said. “They’re not playing like freshmen any longer. There is a level of comfort with them and they’ve made the most of the opportunity. Those two kids are playing awfully good basketball for us.”
Even with the Hokies’ improved offensive play in the last 10 minutes, Virginia always hangs their hat on defense, which is what won them the game on the last play.
Tobi Lawal, who only scored four second half points, credited Virginia for the way they wear their opponents out.
“We’re playing defense way longer than we’re playing offense,” Lawal stated.
Constantly playing 20-30 seconds of defense has a way of wearing a team out. Especially when it isn’t meriting stops as McKneely continues down tough shots in grenade situations near the end of the shot clock.
Besides tiring Lawal out, Virginia was able to slow him down in the second half with a concept he called “triple switching.”
This means, UVA would switch ball screens (something they never do) to make sure Lawal doesn’t open up as a free roller. Then, so that Lawal doesn’t have a mismatch with a guard on him in the post, they would switch a bigger player on him before he could ever get the ball. Such a defensive scheme requires elite connection and communication between teammates; something former UVA teams always had and this squad seems to be developing late into the season.
Now, after picking up three consecutive victories, Virginia has tied Virginia Tech in the ACC standings and are playing their best basketball of the season.
“They’re playing like UVA right now,” Young said. “They’re playing with physicality. I think that’s a testament to Ron and his staff and what they’ve done with this team.”
Virginia Tech, who has been playing much improved basketball themselves, look to get back on track in the coming week with a couple of road trips to Boston College and Miami, respectively.
The first step of getting back on track is returning to full health, following a game in which starting shooting guard Jaden Schutt only played 18 minutes.
“Jaden Schutt’s got the flu,” Young said. (He) Missed practice on Wednesday. He just doesn’t have a great look. I heard him in the bathroom before going onto the floor throwing up.”
Without Schutt, Young was forced to rely on a backcourt of Hammond and backup point guard Brandon Rechsteiner. This isn’t a combination he wants to lean on too often down the stretch of the season.
Virginia returns to John Paul Jones Arena for their biggest test of the season, as they host the second ranked Duke Blue Devils (22-3, 14-1) at 8 p.m. on Monday, February 17th. Virginia Tech returns to the hardwood for a matchup against Boston College (10-15, 2-12) at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18th.
