Virginia Cavaliers Triumph Over Boston College
In an exciting clash in Boston, the No. 17 Virginia Cavaliers emerged victorious against Boston College with a final score of 73-66. Thijs De Ridder played a pivotal role for Virginia, contributing 17 points, while Malik Thomas and Chance Mallory added 14 and 11 points, respectively. This win improves the Cavaliers’ record to 18-3 overall and 7-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Boston College’s Struggles
The Eagles, who struggled through the matchup, were led by Donald Hand Jr.—the son of a former Virginia star—who scored 20 points. Fred Payne also made a notable contribution with 17 points for Boston College, which now holds a record of 9-12 and 2-6 in the conference.
Game Highlights
Initially, Boston College held a five-point lead at halftime, outperforming Virginia by shooting 50% from the field. However, the momentum shifted in the second half. Just over four minutes into the period, a three-point play by Sam Lewis allowed Virginia to claim its first lead at 41-38. The Cavaliers continued to build their lead, with Malik Thomas showcasing a stretch of scoring that included a twisting layup, bringing the advantage to seven points.
Although Boston College attempted to keep the game competitive, Virginia solidified their lead when a crucial three-pointer from Kihei Clark made it 55-52 with under 10 minutes remaining. The final moments saw Ugonna Onyenso drive the score to 72-64 with a dunk, demonstrating Virginia’s knack for capitalizing in critical situations.
Rebounding and Future Matches
The Cavaliers’ ability to outperform in rebounding—especially on the offensive boards where they collected 14 as compared to BC’s 8—played a significant role in their comeback from being behind for the majority of the first half. This win follows Virginia’s incredible double-overtime triumph against Notre Dame on Tuesday, marking a strong performance as they head into their next game.
Looking forward, Virginia will host Pittsburgh on Tuesday, while Boston College prepares to face No. 4 Duke on the same day.
