It wasn’t a big win. It wasn’t an impressive win. It wasn’t even an encouraging win. But it was just that – a win. An ACC win, at that, and you better believe Virginia will take one of those any way it can get it.
On their sixth try this season, the Cavaliers finally prevailed in a conference game, edging Clemson 81-79 tonight at University Hall. Virginia led almost the entire way but didn’t secure the win until Tigers center Sharrod Ford missed an open 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Wahoos didn’t move out of the ACC cellar, but they now share it with Clemson at 1-5.
“It was a great win and we’re fortunate that last shot didn’t go in,” said UVa coach Pete Gillen, whose team is now 10-6 overall. “We’re thrilled with the victory.”
Devin Smith led Virginia with 22 points and Elton Brown had 16, including the team’s final three baskets. Sean Singletary , who had 15 points and seven assists, reinjured his left shoulder in the final minutes but finished the game and later insisted he’ll be OK.
It could have – maybe should have – been an easy win for the Cavs. They shot 57% from the field and committed just six turnovers, the fewest against an ACC opponent in Gillen’s seven years as coach. But nothing has come easily for this team since November, and tonight was no exception.
The Tigers stayed close by making 13 3-pointers (in 30 attempts) and outrebounding Virginia 23-11 in the second half. The Cavaliers used an 11-1 run early in the second half to take a 10-point lead, but Clemson kept chipping away thanks to another typically poor defensive effort by UVa.
Olu Babalola and Shawan Robinson each made four 3-pointers against Virginia’s soft zone defense. The last one by Babalola cut UVa’s lead to 81-79 with 17 seconds left.
Clemson quickly fouled J.R. Reynolds, who had made two free throws on Virginia’s previous possession and was shooting 87% from the line this season. This time, however, he hit the front rim and the Tigers rushed upcourt without calling a timeout. After several passes, the ball wound up in the hands of Ford on the right baseline, 17 feet from the basket.
Ford is Clemson’s top scorer and rebounder, but the senior had never made a 3-pointer in his career. Yet he stepped back behind the line to go for the game-winner and the ball barely grazed the rim, allowing the Wahoos and the fans at half-empty U-Hall to breathe a sigh of relief.
Said Brown: “I was like, if he hits it, I’m just going to cry.”
Instead, the Cavaliers can be happy, at least for a little while. They next face surprising Virginia Tech on Thursday night in Blacksburg.
“We knew we had to win this game. We had to protect our home floor,” said Smith. “Now we’ve got to keep it up and get some more wins, whatever it takes.”
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* – Please accept our apology for the lack of photos of the game. Our photographer was unable to attend because of the weather.
