Virginia Basketball Clinches ACC Tournament Seed

0:00On March 4, Virginia men's basketball pulled out an ugly win over Wake Forest at home, grinding to a final score of 73-70 with. Key free throws down the stretch. Despite poor shooting from both sides, Virginia hit just 36% from the floor in the first half. They controlled the boards early and built. A 32-24 halftime lead. This victory clinched the second seed for the hues in the ACC tournament. Both teams heated up after the break, making the game tighter as Wake rallied late with a couple of three-point plays to pull within three. Virginia's defense held firm, though, and they leaned on clutch plays to seal it. Earlier this week, after a tough loss at Duke, this was exactly the kind of resilient performance good teams deliver. Dalin Hall stepped up big, breaking ankles on drives and sinking all four free throws when Wake closed the gap. Jakari White adapted well, attacking the rim for 14 points after his threes were falling. Meanwhile, Johann Grunlo posted 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks in a solid all-around effort.

1:05Not every night was smooth. Chance Maori missed a key free throw late after holding the ball himself, and Sam Lewis fouled out with just two points. Still, Lewis showed maturity by playing within himself and leading the team in plus-minus. Wake struggled defensively all-game. With the regular season wrapping up, Virginia hosts Virginia Tech on Saturday, March 7 at 12 noon. This rematch sets the stage perfectly for their strong tournament positioning.