UVA Cavaliers Cruise Past Boston College Eagles in ACC Matchup

Cavaliers' stifling defense limits Eagles' offense in 13.5-point victory

Jan. 31, 2026 at 8:47am

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The No. 17 UVA Cavaliers defeated the Boston College Eagles 74-58 in an ACC college basketball matchup on Saturday afternoon. The Cavaliers, led by standout freshman forward Thijs De Ridder's 17 points and 6 rebounds, used their methodical pace and stifling defense to limit the struggling Eagles offense.

Why it matters

This win keeps UVA in third place in the ACC standings and solidifies their position as a top-20 team in the country. For Boston College, the loss continues their disappointing season as they remain in 13th place in the conference standings.

The details

UVA jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, using their trademark slow pace and lockdown defense to frustrate the Eagles all afternoon. Boston College, which ranks 331st nationally in points per game, was held to just 58 points - well below their season average. De Ridder led the way for the Cavaliers, who improved to 15-5 on the season.

  • The game tipped off at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 31, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.

The players

Thijs De Ridder

A standout freshman forward for the Virginia Cavaliers, averaging 17.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game this season.

Ryan Odom

In his first season as head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers, Odom has quickly steadied the program after Tony Bennett's surprise retirement.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to come in and set the tone defensively against a struggling Boston College team. Our guys did a great job of executing the game plan and limiting their scoring opportunities.”

— Ryan Odom, Head Coach, Virginia Cavaliers

What’s next

The Cavaliers will look to build on this win as they continue their ACC schedule, while Boston College will try to regroup and find a way to spark their offense in future games.

The takeaway

UVA's stifling defense and methodical pace proved too much for the struggling Boston College offense, as the Cavaliers cruised to a comfortable victory to remain in the hunt for a top spot in the ACC standings.