Virginia Survives Another Close One, Outlasts Ohio State in Gritty 70-66 Win
The No. 15 Virginia Cavaliers just keep finding ways to win.
Saturday night in Nashville, they pulled out yet another nail-biter, edging Ohio State 70-66 with a late defensive stand that sealed the deal. It wasn’t always pretty-and at times it looked like things might slip away-but when it mattered most, Virginia clamped down and made the plays that count.
With the Buckeyes missing one of their top scorers, this was a game Virginia couldn’t afford to let get away. And thanks to a gritty team effort, they didn’t. The Cavaliers are now 22-3, and while this one won’t go in the style points column, it’s another notch in the win column as ACC play hits the home stretch.
Let’s break down what we saw-and what it means moving forward.
Another Slow Start, Another Swift Recovery
If you’ve been following Virginia lately, you’ve seen this movie before: a sluggish start followed by a mid-half surge to get back in it. This time, Ohio State hit them with a 14-2 run early, building an 11-point cushion and putting Virginia on the ropes.
But give the Cavaliers credit-they didn’t let it spiral. A quick 9-0 counterpunch brought them right back into the game, and from that point on, they were the better team for most of the first half. They even took a five-point lead into the break.
Freshman guard Chance Mallory played a big role in that turnaround. He came off the bench and immediately gave the offense a spark, scoring seven first-half points and going a perfect 4-for-4 from the line. His ability to draw contact, push the pace, and keep the Buckeye defense off balance was huge in shifting the momentum.
Offensive Droughts Continue to Haunt the Hoos
If the first half was a slow start with a quick rebound, the second half opened with a full-on offensive blackout.
Virginia didn’t make a single field goal in the final 4:16 of the first half-and then made just one in the first 6:55 of the second. That’s over 11 minutes of game time with just one made shot. In that window, Ohio State reclaimed the lead and built a six-point advantage of their own.
But just when it looked like the Cavaliers might let this one slip, they steadied the ship. A critical 13-2 run flipped the deficit into a five-point lead, and while it wasn’t a scoring explosion, it was enough. The offense found just enough rhythm, just enough control, and just enough buckets to get across the finish line.
Uneven Defense Finds Its Form Late
This wasn’t Virginia’s best defensive performance-at least not for the first 30 minutes. There were breakdowns in the halfcourt, transition issues after turnovers, and plenty of moments where Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton got whatever he wanted.
With John Mobley Jr. sidelined, Thornton carried the load for the Buckeyes, and Virginia struggled to contain him for long stretches. Rather than forcing Ohio State’s supporting cast to beat them, the Cavaliers allowed Thornton to stay in rhythm far too long.
But when the clock ticked under 10 minutes, things changed.
Virginia’s defense locked in, holding Ohio State to just seven points over the final 10 minutes. The Cavaliers closed the game on a 12-2 run and made the kind of winning plays that championship-caliber teams make. Dallin Hall came up with a clutch steal and transition bucket, and Ugonna Onyenso capped the night with a thunderous block on Thornton’s jumper-his fourth of the game.
Onyenso’s shot-blocking has become a signature weapon for this team, and once again, it showed up when it mattered most.
Three-Point Volume Takes a Dip-and That Might Be a Good Thing
One of the more interesting wrinkles in this win was Virginia’s approach from beyond the arc. After averaging over 30 three-point attempts per game in ACC play-and hoisting 33 against Florida State earlier this week-the Cavaliers dialed it way back, taking just 18 threes against the Buckeyes.
That’s a noticeable shift, and it paid off.
Rather than settling for deep, contested looks, Virginia focused on attacking the interior of Ohio State’s defense. That led to higher-percentage shots, more trips to the free throw line, and a more balanced offensive approach. It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective.
Whether this was a deliberate adjustment by Ryan Odom and his staff or just how the game flowed, it showed that Virginia can win without relying on the three-ball. And that kind of versatility could be crucial as the schedule tightens.
Thijs De Ridder’s Slump Continues-But It’s Not Time to Panic
Virginia’s leading scorer, Thijs De Ridder, has hit a bit of a wall offensively. For the third straight game, he failed to reach double figures, finishing with just six points on 2-of-7 shooting, including 0-for-2 from deep.
This stretch-24 points on 8-of-27 shooting over three games-hasn’t been what we’re used to seeing from the Belgian forward. And while Virginia has managed to win all three of those games, they’ve all been tighter than they probably should’ve been.
The good news? There’s no sense of panic.
De Ridder’s track record speaks for itself, and he’s still impacting games in other ways. But with key matchups against Miami, NC State, and No.
4 Duke on the horizon, the Cavaliers will need him to find his offensive rhythm again.
Wednesday’s game against Georgia Tech could be just what he needs to get back on track.
The Bottom Line
Virginia isn’t blowing teams out, but they’re winning-and in February, that’s what matters. They’ve now won 11 of their last 12 and continue to show they can grind out tough victories even when the offense isn’t clicking.
There’s still room for improvement-especially in terms of consistency on both ends-but this team knows how to close. And as March creeps closer, that’s a trait every contender wants in its back pocket.