Cavaliers Hold Off Hokies, 73-70
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia (13-12, 6-8 ACC) defeated Virginia Tech (11-14, 6-8 ACC), 73-70, in a Smithfield Commonwealth Clash on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 15) at Cassell Coliseum. With the win, UVA now holds a 6.0-3.0 lead in the 2024-25 .
In their second game against the Hokies in two weeks, the Cavaliers shot 46 percent (23 of 50) from the field and hit 11 3-pointers. Isaac McKneely led the charge with 22 points off 7 of 16 shooting with six triples. Anthony Robinson finished with career highs in points (15) and rebounds (7). Dai Dai Ames rounded out the double-figure scorers with 11 points.
The Hokies shot 46 percent (23 of 50) and were led by Tobi Lawal’s 23 points (7-11 FG, 2 3FG, 7-9 FT).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cavaliers led 40-33 at halftime after shooting 55.6 percent from the field and drilling seven 3-pointers. A 17-4 scoring run gave Virginia an 11-point advantage [22-11] at the 10:28 mark, then the Hoos grew that lead to as many as 15 points. A 14-3 Hokie burst brought the home team back within four with one minute remaining, but UVA’s Elijah Saunders drained an arena-silencing 3-pointer in the final seconds of the first half. Virginia Tech forward Tobi Lawal led all scorers in the first half, tallying 19 of the Hokies’ 33 total points.
The Hoos held the Hokies at arm’s length for the first 16 minutes of the second half, but the home team cut its deficit to three [64-61] with a 11-5 run. The Hokies trailed by just one [71-70] at the 1:17 mark, but an Anthony Robinson dunk put the Cavaliers back up by three and Virginia Tech did not score after that.
UP NEXT
Virginia hosts No. 3 Duke (22-3, 14-1 ACC) on Monday, Feb. 17. Tipoff at John Paul Jones Arena is set for 8 p.m. on ESPN.
THE COMMONWEALTH CLASH
• The Smithfield Commonwealth Clash is a rivalry between Virginia and Virginia Tech across all school-sponsored sports with 21 individual event points on the line.
• The school that accumulates 11 points or more will be crowned the winner of the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash trophy.
• The UVA-VT game was worth a half point in the Clash and with the win, the Cavaliers lead this year’s Clash 6.0-3.0.
• UVA captured the Clash in 2015, 2016, 2019, 2023 and 2024, while Virginia Tech won the Clash in 2017, 2018 and 2022. The 2020 and 2021 clashes were canceled due to the pandemic.