MBB: Cavaliers earn first true road win with 82-71 triumph over Hurricanes

By Scott Ratcliffe

Virginia notched its first true road victory under interim head coach Ron Sanchez in a short-handed, 82-71 win in Miami on Wednesday, getting a ton of support from some unsung heroes.

Playing without two of its top three scorers — Elijah Saunders (11.8 ppg) and Andrew Rohde (8.7 ppg) did not dress out — UVA got some huge contributions from Taine Murray and Blake Buchanan, while Isaac McKneely stayed hot to help Sanchez register his much-needed first road win of the season.

The Cavaliers (10-11, 3-7 ACC) enjoyed one of their better shooting performances in quite some time, connecting on 55 percent from the field (28 of 51) and 46 percent (11 for 24) from long range while posting at least 40 points in each half.

Murray and Buchanan were inserted into the starting lineup and combined for 36 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. Murray set a new career high with his 20 points, while also dishing out a game-high 7 assists (also a career high), while Buchanan just missed out on a double-double, finishing with 16 points and 9 boards (5 offensive).

Meanwhile, McKneely sank a total of six 3-pointers en route to a team-high (and season-high) 26 points, including an important late flurry to lead the charge and seal the deal. Over his last three outings, McKneely has connected on 16 of his 31 3-point attempts (52 percent).

For the Hurricanes (4-17, 0-10), it’s been nearly a year since they last won a conference game, and Matthew Cleveland — who put up a game-high 27 points — did all he could to provide fans at the Watsco Center a reason to go home happy for a change, but the team ultimately dropped its 19th ACC contest in a row.

Leading by 11 at halftime, Virginia saw its lead evaporate to three, 47-44, after a defensive collapse led to an easy, wide-open dunk for Miami’s Brandon Johnson, as Sanchez decided to burn a timeout with 13:26 remaining.

When the Hurricanes cut it to 50-46 moments later, Murray knocked down a triple to create a little more distance, and then McKneely drilled one from long range just before the under-8 media break after the Canes had again gotten within four points.

With 4:48 on the game clock, Cleveland converted a three-point play, as Miami once again was within striking distance, 64-60, but McKneely got the last laugh, reeling off 10 straight points across the following two and a half minutes — including a pair of triples, the second of which came with a kiss for the crowd — to extend the Wahoos’ lead back to double digits, 74-64, with 2:12 to go.

Miami was back within two possessions, 75-69, after a Cleveland steal and score with 1:11 to play, but he then lost the ball out of bounds on the following trip down the court, and the Hoos were able to escape.

UVA fell into an early 14-9 hole in the opening half before taking advantage of five Miami turnovers and mounting a 14-0 scoring run — highlighted by four 3-balls; three of them by McKneely — and never looked back.

The Cavaliers dished out 20 assists on the evening and won the rebounding battle, 27-24, scoring 18 points off of 11 Miami giveaways while committing just 7 turnovers of their own. Jacob Cofie also got another start and chipped in with 9 points and 7 rebounds across 25 minutes.

The Hurricanes shot at a 51-percent clip (25 for 49), including 32 percent (6 of 19) from downtown. Each team made 15 of 20 from the charity stripe. Johnson was the only other Miami player in double figures aside from Cleveland, as he turned in 13 points and 7 rebounds.

Team Notes

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

• The Cavaliers improved to 10-11 overall, 3-7 ACC
• Virginia scored a season-high 82 points in the win
• Virginia is 2-7 away from home and 1-5 in true road contests
• UVA went on a 14-0 run to gain a 23-14 lead
• UVA led 40-29 at the half
• UVA’s 40 first-half points were its second most in the opening stanza (41 vs. Boston College)
• UVA led at the half for the second time in ACC play
• UVA has allowed 70 or more points in eight games (1-7)
• UVA (11 3-pointers) has made six or more 3-pointers in 19 games
• Virginia is 173-11 all-time when scoring 70 or more points since 2009-10 (5-0 in 2024-25)
• UVA shot 54.9 percent in the win

Series Notes

• Virginia is 17-13 all-time vs. Miami in the series that dates to 1965-66.
• UVA has won eight of the last nine meetings, including four of the last five meetings at Watsco Center

Player Notes

• Double Figure Scorers: Isaac McKneely (26), Taine Murray (20), Blake Buchanan (16)
• Murray set career highs in points (20) and assists (7)
• Murray reached double figures for the third time (8 career)
• Murray made his fourth start of the season (6 career)
• McKneely tallied his ninth career 20-point game
• McKneely reached double figures for the 16th time (42 career)
• McKneely has made multiple 3-pointers in 14 games
• McKneely tied a career high with six 3-pointers
• Buchanan reached double figures for the fourth time (5 career)
• Elijah Saunders and Andrew Rohde missed the game with injuries

UP NEXT

UVA welcomes Virginia Tech to John Paul Jones Arena on Saturday (4 p.m., ACC Network) for the first of two February clashes in two weeks with the Hokies. Tech (9-12, 4-6) snapped a 3-game losing streak with a 10-point win at Florida State on Wednesday, as head coach Mike Young secured his 400th career win.