Virginia Takes 59-56 Win at Pitt

PITTSBURGH – Four players scored in double-figures to lead Virginia (19-7, 11-5 ACC) in its 59-56 win at Pitt (15-13, 6-11 ACC) on Saturday afternoon.
 
Kihei Clark (Woodland Hills, Calif.) led UVA with 17 points. Mamadi Diakite (Conakry, Guinea, Africa) had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Braxton Key (Charlotte, N.C.) and Tomas Woldetensae (Bologna, Italy) each added 10 points.
 
Virginia shot 43.8 percent from the field and led in rebounds (33-32). Pitt shot 38.6 percent with Xavier Johnson leading the team with 16 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia took an early lead and was up 7-2 after a three by Jay Huff (Durham, N.C.). Pitt then went ahead but Virginia responded with a 10-2 run after threes by Casey Morsell (Fort Washington, Md.) and Woldetensae to lead 26-19. UVA led 31-26 but Pitt hit a three just before the half to make it 31-19 at halftime.
 
The Cavaliers opened the second half with a 13-2 run to lead 44-31. UVA kept a double-digit lead for much of the second half, but Pitt had a 15-4 run to pull within two, 58-56, with 52 seconds remaining. Key hit a free throw with four seconds remaining as UVA held on for the win.
 
THE GAME BALL GOES TO
Mamadi Diakite had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, going 4-for-8 from the field.
 
NOTES
• UVA led 31-29 at halftime, matching an ACC high with 52 percent field goal shooting (13 of 25)
• UVA improved to 15-0 when leading at halftime
• Diakite recorded his second career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds
• Huff (3 blocks) has 13 multi-block games
• Woldetensae extended his 3-point streak to eight games
 
UP NEXT
Virginia remains on the road playing at Virginia Tech on Wednesday, Feb. 26 in a Commonwealth Clash. The game is set to tip at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.