Virginia Holds Off Wake Forest, 49-47
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Wake Forest (16-9, 8-6 ACC) missed a potential game-tying try at the buzzer as the No. 21 Virginia Cavaliers (20-6, 11-4 ACC) held on to secure a 49-47 victory on Saturday (Feb. 17) afternoon at John Paul Jones Arena.
The Cavaliers shot 41 percent from the field, but made only 1 of 11 free throw attempts. The Demon Deacons shot 35 percent in the contest. Reece Beekman led the Cavaliers with 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. Ryan Dunn contributed six points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven blocks. Isaac McKneely shot 5 of 12 to add 12 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia got off on the right foot, grabbing an 11-6 lead at the first media timeout. The Cavaliers then put up only two points in a nearly ten minute stretch, allowing the Demon Deacons to snag a three point lead. Following a 6-0 Wake Forest scoring run late in the half, McKneely and Dunn combined to add four quick Cavalier points and cut the Wake lead to just one going into the intermission (22-21). The Hoos had three players finish with six points in the opening stanza — Beekman, Dunn and McKneely.
Beekman kicked off Virginia’s second half scoring with eight points in three minutes, including a pair of 3-pointers. The visitors strung together a 6-0 run, but that momentum dissipated as the Cavaliers countered with a 10-2 burst of their own, capped by a Beekman steal-and-slam, to establish a seven point lead with just under 10 minutes remaining . The two sides traded blows up until the final minute, when the trailing Demon Deacons gave Virginia a string of opportunities from the line. McKneely’s timely made free throw, the first make of the game from the charity stripe for the Cavaliers, gave Virginia a critical two point lead with six seconds remaining. Wake missed a last-second step-back jumper to seal a 49-47 victory for the home team.
UP NEXT
Virginia plays in-state rival Virginia Tech in a Smithfield Commonwealth Clash on Monday, Feb. 19. Tipoff at Cassell Coliseum is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN.