Virginia Secures Narrow Victory Over Miami with Last-Second Free Throws
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — In a thrilling encounter, No. 14 Virginia triumphed over Miami 86-83, thanks to Chance Mallory’s clutch performance in the final moments. With just 3.6 seconds left on the clock, Mallory was fouled on a 3-point attempt and confidently sank all three free throws, sealing the victory for the Cavaliers on Saturday.
Jacari White was instrumental off the bench, contributing 17 points and hitting five 3-pointers for the Cavaliers (24-3, 12-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who have now extended their winning streak to eight games. Sam Lewis added 15 points, Thijs De Ridder scored 14, and Mallory finished with 12 points, all scored in the second half.
On the opposing side, Miami (21-6, 10-4 ACC) saw their four-game winning run come to an end. Shelton Henderson and Tre Donaldson both led the Hurricanes with 18 points. Despite outrebounding Virginia 30-23 and outscoring them 18-2 on second-chance points, Miami fell short in securing the win.
The Cavaliers’ victory allowed them to maintain their second-place position in the conference standings, staying ahead of third-place Miami and denying the Hurricanes a significant Quad 1 victory.
Prior to the game, UVA honored former coach Tony Bennett with a ceremony naming the court at John Paul Jones Arena after him, revealing a logo of his signature with several former players present to celebrate the occasion.
Initially, Miami took a strong lead, surging ahead by 11 points early in the game. However, Virginia responded by hitting seven 3-pointers in the first half, keeping them competitive. Miami closed the first half with an eight-point run, leading 44-39 at the break.
The game remained tight, with both teams tied at 59 points with 11:33 left in the game. Mallory and De Ridder were key in helping Virginia achieve their largest lead of 68-61 with 8:54 remaining.
Miami managed to rally, setting the stage for a tense conclusion. Malik Reneau’s layup with seven seconds left tied the game at 83-83. Mallory then took the inbounds pass, advanced across the half-court line, and was fouled during a shot attempt, leading to the decisive free throws.
Upcoming Games
Miami will visit Florida State on Tuesday, while Virginia is set to host N.C. State on the same day.
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