- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Nashville Today
By the People, for the People
No. 15 Virginia rallies past Ohio State for 6th straight win
Malik Thomas and Chance Mallory lead the Cavaliers to a comeback victory in the Nashville Hoops Showdown.
Published on Feb. 15, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
No. 15 Virginia overcame a late Ohio State lead to extend its winning streak to six games with a 70-66 nonconference victory over the Buckeyes on Saturday night in Nashville, Tennessee. Malik Thomas had 13 points and six rebounds for the Cavaliers, while Chance Mallory and Sam Lewis added 12 points each. Bruce Thornton led Ohio State with 28 points, but Virginia's strong free throw shooting and rebounding edge proved to be the difference.
Why it matters
This win helps boost Virginia's NCAA Tournament resume as they continue their strong season. The neutral-site matchup against Ohio State provided an opportunity for both teams to pick up a quality nonconference victory ahead of their respective conference schedules.
The details
Virginia shot 32 free throws compared to just 9 for Ohio State, outscoring the Buckeyes 22-6 from the line. The Cavaliers also dominated the rebounding battle 40-26. After Ohio State took a 59-53 lead midway through the second half, Virginia responded with an 8-0 run to retake the lead. The Buckeyes were held scoreless for over 4 minutes late in the game, allowing the Cavaliers to seal the victory at the free throw line.
- The game was played on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
- It was part of the inaugural Nashville Hoops Showdown, a neutral-site event.
The players
Malik Thomas
A Virginia player who had 13 points and 6 rebounds in the game.
Chance Mallory
A Virginia player who scored 12 points in the comeback win.
Bruce Thornton
The leading scorer for Ohio State with 28 points in the losing effort.
What’s next
Both Virginia and Ohio State will return to conference play as they look to solidify their postseason positioning.
The takeaway
Virginia's ability to overcome a late deficit and win the rebounding and free throw battles proved to be the difference in this close nonconference matchup. The Cavaliers' depth and balanced scoring attack helped them extend their winning streak to six games.
