The University of Virginia defeated Georgia Tech in the first half and never looked back behind an enthusiastic Senior Day crowd at John Paul Jones Arena on Saturday. The Cavaliers (22-9, 13-7 ACC) entered the game with a spot in the NCAA Tournament on the line, while the Yellow Jackets (14-17, 7-13 ACC) looked to continue his three-game winning streak. Ta. On Senior Night, senior guard Reece Beekman tied his career high with 21 points and received a standing ovation during coach Tony Bennett's curtain call in the final minutes.
Virginia got points from its star players. After two buckets from Beekman, sophomore guard Ryan Dunn broke through the defense and made a spin move for an easy layup. Freshman forward Jake Groves hit a 3-pointer to give the Cavaliers a 10-8 lead with 14 1/2 minutes left in the first half.
Although the leading scorer was the standout early on, Virginia found ways to get other players involved as the first half progressed. Junior guard Thayne Murray was able to get a shot near the rim and found himself wide open from beyond the arc a few minutes later thanks to an assist from Beekman. Bennett rewarded Murray, who played a season-high 28 minutes.
Even though Virginia split the basketball, Georgia Tech trailed by a narrow 23-18 with less than five minutes left in the first half. Freshman forward Baze Ndongo ignited the Yellow Jackets offense, using his length to finish in the paint. After shortening the shot clock and forcing a tough shot, the Virginia defense watched as Ndongo collected an offensive rebound and made a putback shot.
Despite Georgia Tech's hard work, Virginia ended the first half on a 15-6 run. The Cavaliers scored on each of their final six possessions of the first half, highlighting the normally hidden potential of their offense. Sophomore guard Isaac McKneely made a 3-pointer on Virginia's final possession of the first half to extend the lead to 38-24.
This season, Virginia's lead at halftime proved ominous for opponents. Entering the game, the Cavaliers led 19-0 at the half. Georgia Tech turned the ball over nine times in the first half, four of which came on steals from Beekman and Dunn.
Ndongo started the second half well, scoring the Yellow Jackets' first six points of the period. Virginia's defense was effective in preventing fast breaks, but the lanky Ndongo made an alley-oop dunk just seconds after Groves misfired at the other end.
Fortunately, Virginia's heavy shooting didn't stop in the second half. Murray and McNealy both made 3-pointers within the same minute (both thanks to assists from Beekman), making the score 49-34 with just under 16 minutes left.
The Cavaliers never relinquished a double-digit lead. Ndongo finished with 21 points, becoming the only Yellow Jackets player to score in double figures. Georgia Tech has shot 32.7 percent from the 3-point line this season, but made just four of them on Saturday despite taking a whopping 21 shots.
McKneely made a nylon-splattering 3-pointer in the final minute to seal the deal for the Cavaliers and extend Virginia's lead to 16. The assist was credited to Beekman, and Bennett subbed him in for senior forward Tristan Howe.
The JPJ crowd gave the school's all-time stealing base a standing ovation as he left the court. In his senior season, Beekman led the team in points, assists and steals, making him a top candidate for ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
“He's been here four years,” Bennett said in the postgame press conference. “I know we talk a lot about the transfer portal and we talk a lot about the NIL. This young man chose to come here. He's the career leader in stolen bases. He won the ACC Championship. He's won twice. He's done a lot of things and it's the right thing to do.”
Virginia fans were thrilled with how they got into the game. Shortly after his appearance on the court, he received the ball just inside the 3-point line, drove off the dribble a few times, and spun for a powerful fadeaway jump shot. The crowd's reaction blew the roof off JPJ, and his teammates gave him a hard time as the final buzzer sounded.
With Saturday night's win, Virginia earned a double bye in the ACC Tournament. At 22-9, the Cavaliers are likely to make the NCAA Tournament, but it's not guaranteed. Virginia will look to solidify its return with a long run in the conference tournament this week.
Virginia will play Clemson, Boston College or Miami in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. The semi-finals and championship games will be held on Friday and Saturday respectively.
