Virginia Wins Overtime Thriller Over NC State, 59-53
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia Cavaliers (14-5, 5-3 ACC) extended their home win streak to 21 games as they spoiled the NC State Wolfpack’s (13-6, 5-3 ACC) comeback hopes in a 59-53 overtime victory at John Paul Jones Arena Wednesday night (Jan. 24).
Virginia enjoyed a balanced scoring effort, as five players finished with the double-digit points. Ryan Dunn recorded a double-double as he led the Hoos with 13 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks. Both Reece Beekman (4-for-12 FG) and Taine Murray (3-4 FG) added 11 points. Jordan Minor logged 10 points on 5-for-9 shooting while also contributing nine rebounds, six of those being offensive. Isaac McKneely rounded out the double-digit scorers, tallying 10 points on 4-for-16 shooting.
The Cavaliers held the Wolfpack to 35 percent shooting and outrebounded the visitors 54-32.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia struggled to find a groove offensively to begin the contest as NC State took a 6-3 advantage at the first media timeout. A McKneely 3-pointer gave the Hoos their first lead of the night [8-6] while the Wolfpack was held scoreless for nearly six minutes. The two sides traded buckets until Virginia launched on a 11-0 scoring run to secure a 27-15 lead at the break.
After NC State opened the second half with a 6-2 scoring burst, the Cavaliers responded with a 6-0 run of their own to grab a game-high 14-point lead [35-21]. A 20-5 Wolfpack run midway through the second stanza put the game back within reach for the visitors. The two teams went back-and-forth throughout the final minutes of the second half, but neither were able to secure a lead at the conclusion of regulation as the game went into overtime at 47-47.
Virginia scored the first six points in the overtime period, highlighted by a clutch 3-pointer from Murray. Murray then drained three crucial free-throws before Dunn slammed an arena-shaking dunk to secure a 59-53 Cavalier victory.
UP NEXT
Virginia travels to Louisville for an ACC contest on Saturday, Jan. 27. Tipoff at KFC Yum! Arena is set for noon on The CW.