In a thrilling showdown at John Jones Arena, Virginia's Chance Mallory was the hero of the night, calmly sinking three clutch free throws to lift the Cavaliers to an 86-83 victory over Miami. With just 3.6 seconds on the clock and the game deadlocked at 83, Mallory's precision sealed the deal for Virginia, ending Miami's streak of nail-biting wins.
The Hurricanes, fresh off two consecutive one-point victories, came into the game with momentum. They initially surged ahead with a 17-2 run, showcasing some sharp shooting-hitting 56.7% from the field and 62.5% from three-point range. Freshman Shelton Henderson was pivotal, sparking the run with eight early points.
The first half was a rollercoaster, with both teams trading blows. Miami held a narrow 44-39 lead at the break, thanks to Tru Washington's trio of three-pointers and Timo Malovec's fast break layup.
Virginia came out strong in the second half, setting the pace with an 11-2 run. But Miami wasn't backing down, cutting the deficit to two points before Virginia responded with another surge, forcing the Hurricanes into a timeout.
Tre Donaldson then ignited Miami with a 13-2 run, hitting a crucial three-pointer to push them ahead 73-70 with just five minutes to play. As the clock wound down, Miami clawed back from a four-point deficit to tie the game at 83.
However, a costly foul sent Mallory to the line, where he delivered under pressure, securing the win for the Cavaliers.
Donaldson and Henderson led Miami with 18 points each. Malik Reneau added 16, while Washington chipped in 15 points and seven assists off the bench. Ernest Udeh Jr. was solid with nine rebounds and eight points, perfect from the free throw line.
Despite shooting a stellar 94.1% from the line, Miami's nine turnovers proved costly, as Virginia capitalized by turning them into 14 points.
Now sitting third in the ACC with a 21-6 record, Miami has made a remarkable turnaround under first-year head coach Jai Lucas. Last season's struggles are a distant memory as the Hurricanes have transformed into serious contenders, thanks to a focus on points in the paint, offensive rebounding, and defensive tenacity.
Key players like Reneau, averaging 19.5 points per game, Udeh Jr. with 9.5 rebounds, and Donaldson leading with 5.9 assists, have been instrumental in Miami's resurgence. With their eyes set on March Madness, the Hurricanes are poised to make some noise in the tournament.