Virginia Offense Falters In Second Half In Loss At Virginia Tech

Reece Beekman drives against Virginia Tech’s Nahiem Alleyne. Beekman scored 10 points and dished out four assists, but Virginia saw its four-game winning streak snapped. ~ Photo courtesy of Matt Riley of Virginia Athletics Media Relations

The University of Virginia basketball program entered Monday night’s matchup at Virginia Tech holding a 12-1 record when leading at halftime, so when the Hoos entered the locker room up four following the game’s first 20 minutes, Tony Bennett’s group was in good position to capture a fifth straight victory and sweep the regular season series with their rival. Virginia Tech, which like UVA is fighting to be in the NCAA Tournament conversation, had other ideas. The Hokies outscored the Cavaliers, 37-24, in the second half en route to a 62-53 win.

In the face of an aggressive and physical Virginia Tech defense, Virginia’s offense, which produced 29 points on 12-of-25 shooting (48%) in the first half, sputtered most of the second. UVA made just 10-of-30 field goals, missed all six 3-point attempts, and turned the ball over six times in 32 second-half offensive possessions. Virginia Tech blocked four Virginia shot attempts, including three on one possession, grabbing back the lead on a 10-2 run in the opening five minutes of the second half to fire up an already raucous Cassell Coliseum crowd.

“I don’t think we started the second half well enough,” Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said. “Some turnovers, a couple breakdowns defensively, and they ran some good stuff.”

Despite not surpassing double-digit points until almost 11 minutes had passed, the visiting Hoos stayed within striking distance. Back-to-back dunks by redshirt sophomore center Kadin Shedrick and sophomore point guard Reece Beekman (see below) tied the game at 42 apiece with 8:20 left in the game. It appeared UVA has weathered the Tech storm. However, unlike last Monday night’s win in Durham, UVA could not convert key opportunities down the final stretch. Meanwhile, Tech took advantage of its opportunities, making timely buckets and scoring 13 points from the free throw line.

A Nahiem Alleyne 3-pointer off a Jayden Gardner turnover pushed Tech’s lead out to five, 49-44, with 6:06 remaining. Keve Aluma, who posted over 20 points for a third straight time against UVA, essentially sealed the game with a turnaround jumper over Shedrick with 1:19 left. His score, which came with one second left on the shot clock, gave the Hokies a 58-50 lead. UVA closed to seven, 60-53, and had possession when Beekman forced a Hunter Cattoor turnover with 37 seconds left, but Armaan Franklin’s 3-pointer missed. The Hoos missed nine of 14 shots in the final 8-plus minutes.

“It comes down to making plays,” said Bennett, who falls to 17-8 versus Virginia Tech. “We fought back and tied it. Then it comes down, we always talk about, whatever play needs to be made, and [Virginia Tech] did that tonight.”

Gardner, who earned ACC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for his performances in wins at Duke and versus Georgia Tech last week, enjoyed a spectacular first half in Blacksburg, scoring 15 points and pulling down eight boards. The East Carolina transfer struggled offensively in the second, scoring two points on 1-of-6 shooting and committing all three turnovers. In 38 minutes of play he finished with 17 points and 14 boards, earning the 36th double-double of his collegiate career.

Shedrick was second on UVA in points with 11, all of which came in the second half. He added six boards, one block and one steal in 22 minutes. Papi Caffaro, who scored 16 points in UVA’s victory in Charlottesville earlier this season, was held to four points and five rebounds in 20 minutes of action.

Beekman, who like Gardner played 38 minutes, was the only Cavalier backcourt player to reach double-digit scoring, totaling 10 points to go along with four assists, one steal and one turnover. Senior point guard Kihei Clark, coming off terrific performances against Duke and Georgia Tech, struggled mightily. His only two points came in the game’s final minute. Before the made jumper, Clark missed all eight field goal attempts including all five 3-pointers. He had two assists and two turnovers, never truly finding his footing. Franklin scored nine points on 4-of-11 shooting, including 0-3 from 3. As a team Virginia missed all nine attempts from beyond the arc, the first time a Cavalier squad had gone without a 3-pointer since the 2016-2017 season.

Virginia outrebounded Tech, 33-26, and had eight more second-chance points than its counterpart on 11 offensive boards. But the Hoos couldn’t overcome 3-pointers and free throws. Tech, one of the nation’s best 3-point shooting teams, made only 25% from beyond the arc but made five. The Hokies sunk 17-of-21 free throws while the visitors made nine-of-12 attempts from the charity stripe. Tech made 15-of-19 free throws in the second half. Aluma led all scorers with 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting and 4-of-5 free throws. He added eight rebounds and four blocks. Alleyne was the only other Hokie to score in double digits, scoring 11, while Justyn Mutts had eight points, six rebounds five assists, two steals and one block.

Prior to Monday’s loss, UVA had started to creep back into the NCAA Tournament conversation thanks to its four-game win streak that included victories over Miami and Duke. The defeat to Tech puts UVA at 16-10 overall, 10-6 in the ACC, and with virtually no room for error if an NCAA invite is to come. The Hoos hope to get back on the winning track this Saturday (February 19), when they travel to Miami.

Final Book
Tony Bennett Postgame Press Conference

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