By Scott Ratcliffe

No. 2 seed Virginia kicked off the quarterfinal round of the 73rd Annual ACC Tournament Thursday with an 81-74 victory against NC State at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center.

The 10th-ranked Cavaliers (28-4) survived a late push from the 7th-seeded Wolfpack (20-13), who were hoping for an upset to solidify their hopes for an NCAA Tournament at-large berth.

Malik Thomas and All-ACC first-teamer Thijs De Ridder led the way offensively, combining for 31 points, while Sam Lewis and Jacari White combined for seven 3-pointers.

Seven-footer Ugonna Onyenso had his own personal block party, meanwhile, swatting away shot attempt after shot attempt on the defensive end. His 8 blocks tied for second for a single game in ACC Tournament history.

State’s leading scorer Darrion Williams sank a 3-pointer to give his team a 46-45 advantage a little over five minutes into the second half before the Cavaliers responded with 9 unanswered points, part of a 12-3 scoring run that made it a 58-48 ballgame midway through the period.

The Wahoos maintained a fairly comfortable lead until Paul McNeil Jr. led a Wolfpack rally in the closing minutes to make it interesting, but UVA was able to knock down some crucial free throws to seal the win and advance to Friday’s semifinal round.

McNeil connected on a triple with 2:42 remaining — his fourth of the second half — that made it a two-possession game, 70-64, and he wasn’t finished. Quadir Copeland converted a three-point play to trim the Virginia lead to five, 74-69, with 1:24 on the clock, and then McNeil drew a three-shot foul with 55.1 seconds to go, making two to keep the Pack within striking distance, 76-71.

If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!

Chance Mallory was fouled for a 1-and-1 trip with 43.9 ticks showing, connecting on both to push the Hoos’ lead back to seven. McNeil answered with his sixth 3-pointer of the day with 26.8 on the game clock, cutting it back to four, 78-74.

Following a State timeout, Devin Tillis turned the ball over a few seconds later, and the Pack had a chance to get within a possession, but Onyenso was there to send away a Ven-Allen Lubin layup attempt with 18 seconds left.

De Ridder was fouled soon thereafter, missing the front end of a 1-and-1 with 15.1 seconds to play, but Thomas snagged the rebound, leading to Dallin Hall splitting a pair from the foul line to make it 79-74 with 12.5 on the clock.

Copeland then misfired on a 3-point attempt that would’ve cut it to two, and Thomas was there for another important rebound with 2.2 seconds to go, hitting a pair of free throws to clinch the victory.

UVA starting center Johann Grünloh picked up a pair of quick fouls less than three minutes into the contest, resulting in Onyenso playing the five-spot for the rest of the first half.

The Hoos trailed the majority of the half, but went into the break with a 33-32 advantage. Onyenso posted 4 blocks in the first half alone, including one in the closing seconds to preserve the slim lead.

Virginia shot 48 percent from the field (29 for 61), 48 percent from downtown (12 for 25) and 79 percent at the free-throw line (11 of 14), edging the Pack on the boards, 34-33. The Hoos outscored State in the paint, 30-16, and blanked the Wolfies on the fast break, 15-0.

Thomas posted a team-high 16 points, De Ridder finished with 15 and 5 rebounds, while White scored 13 off the bench (3 for 6 from deep) and Lewis added a dozen, all from beyond the arc (4 for 5). Hall produced 8 points, 5 rebounds and a team-high 5 assists, while Onyenso posted 8 points and a team-best 6 boards in addition to his 8 blocked shots.

McNeil led all scorers with 26 points and 6 rebounds, as the Wolfpack shot at a 37-percent clip on the afternoon (21 for 57), knocking down half of their 3-point attempts (11 for 22). Copeland had 9 points and a game-high 6 assists, while Lubin added a double-double in the losing effort (14 points and 10 rebounds).

Team Notes

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

• No. 10 Virginia improved to 28-4
• UVA has won 28 or more games for the ninth time in school history
• UVA is 12-3 away from home, including a 4-1 mark on neutral courts
• Odom’s 28 wins match his career high for wins in his 12-year head coaching career (28 at VCU in 2024-25)
• Odom’s 28 wins are the second-most by a first-year ACC head coach (Bill Guthridge 34 in 1998)
• UVA has scored 80 or more points in 19 games (most since 21 in 2000-01)
• UVA owned a 15-0 advantage in fast break points
• UVA went 12 of 25 from 3-point range
• The Cavaliers’ 12 3-pointers marked a school record in ACC Tournament action
• UVA has made 10 of more 3-pointers in a school-record 19 games, surpassing the 13 games by the 2018-19 national champion team
• UVA’s 9-0 run gave the Hoos a 55-45 lead
• UVA drilled six of 12 3-pointers to gain a 33-32 halftime lead
• UVA is 23-2 when leading at the half
• UVA gained its first lead at 25-24 (6:58 of the first half)
• UVA won the rebound battle 34-33

All-Time in the ACC Tournament

• Virginia is the No. 2 seed in the ACC Tournament for the sixth time (1982, 1983, 2007, 2016, 2023) and first since 2023
• UVA has posted a 9-5 mark as the No. 2 seed in the tournament, advancing to the ACC Tournament final (and losing all four contests) in 1982 (Greensboro), 1983 (Atlanta), 2016 (Washington, D.C.) and 2023 (Greensboro)
• The Cavaliers are 48-67 all-time in the ACC Tournament and 9-15 in Charlotte, reaching the title game in 1990 and 1994
• UVA is 29-37 in the quarterfinal round of the ACC Tournament
• UVA has advanced to the semifinals in nine of the last 12 ACC tournaments 

Series Notes

• Virginia is 74-87 all-time vs. NC State in the series that dates to 1912-13
• UVA is 4-15 against NC State in the ACC Tournament, including a 4-9 mark in the quarterfinals and 2-3 record in Charlotte
• UVA has won three games vs. NC State in the same season for the first time in series history
• UVA has a four-game win streak in the series
• UVA is 4-22 against the Wolfpack on neutral courts

Player Notes

• Double Figure Scorers: Malik Thomas (16), Thijs De Ridder (15), Jacari White (13), Sam Lewis (12)
• De Ridder has reached double figures in 25 games
• Thomas has reached double figures in 23 games (78 career)
• Lewis has reached double figures in 18 games (51 career)
• Lewis (4 3-pointers) has made four or more 3-pointers in five games
• White has reached double figures in 12 games (63 career)
• Ugonna Onyenso (8 blocks) has multiple blocks in 21 games
• Onyenso’s eight blocks are tied for second-most in ACC Tournament single-game history
• Onyenso has four or more blocks in 10 games
• UVA started Johann Grünloh, Dallin Hall, De Ridder, Lewis and Thomas for the 31st game
• Onyenso received the Bob Bradley Spirit and Courage Award prior to the game. The Bradley Award is given annually in memory of Bob Bradley, the Hall of Fame sports information director at Clemson University whose positive attitude inspired all who knew him as he battled cancer. The distinction goes to an ACC student-athlete, coach, administrator, or staff member in men’s or women’s basketball who has overcome significant hardship to contribute to his or her team or society as a whole

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers will face No. 3 seed Miami in the ACC semifinals on Friday at 7 (TV coverage to be announced).

 If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!