Cavaliers Secure Thrilling Win, Top ACC Defense

0:00On March 7, Virginia Cavaliers capped senior night with a thrilling 76-72 win over Virginia Tech. The victory boosted their home record against the Hokies to 43 wins and 14 losses. It's the second time this season, the team split their regular season matchups, continuing a trend from the past five years. The Cavaliers jumped out fast, hitting threes for the first 12 points and seven more in the opening 10 minutes. Malik Thomas scored 16 points, including two from deep, while Sam Lewis added 15 with shots inside and out. That early fires set a strong tone for the squad. Even as Virginia Tech fought back amid 12 turnovers, the Cavaliers state composed. They nailed clutch shots and locked down on defense, improving to 8-1 in games decided by five points or less. Ogana Oñanzo stood out with 16 points, his best in conference play, plus two threes and three blocks. Ogana Oñanzo's rim protection anchors the team's top 15 national defense, blocking 16.5% of opponent's two points shots to lead.

1:03The ACC. Now sitting at 27 and 4, Virginia boasts its strongest regular season since 2018-19. As the number two seed, the Cavaliers get extra rest before Tuesday's ACC tournament tip-off. They're projected as a number four seed in the big dance, setting up an exciting postseason run.