No. 15 Virginia Narrowly Escapes Ohio State in Nashville Hoops Showdown

Cavaliers extend winning streak to six games with 70-66 victory over Buckeyes.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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No. 15 Virginia defeated Ohio State 70-66 in the Nashville Hoops Showdown on Saturday night. Malik Thomas and Sam Lewis each scored 13 points for the Cavaliers, who extended their winning streak to six games. Bruce Thornton scored 28 points for the Buckeyes, who were without injured starter John Mobley Jr.

Why it matters

This nonconference matchup between two top college basketball programs provided an exciting early-season test for both teams as they look to position themselves for strong conference play and potential NCAA Tournament bids.

The details

The game was tied 37-37 at halftime, but Ohio State opened up a six-point lead with under 10 minutes remaining. Virginia then went on a 6-0 run to tie the game, and Sam Lewis hit a layup and two free throws in the final minute to seal the victory for the Cavaliers.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 15, 2026 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Ohio State said John Mobley Jr. would be sidelined indefinitely due to a hand injury sustained on Wednesday, February 12, 2026 against USC.

The players

Malik Thomas

A player for the Virginia Cavaliers who scored 13 points in the game.

Sam Lewis

A player for the Virginia Cavaliers who scored 13 points and made key plays down the stretch to help the Cavaliers win.

Bruce Thornton

A player for the Ohio State Buckeyes who scored a game-high 28 points and recorded his 500th career assist.

Amare Bynum

A player for the Ohio State Buckeyes who had 15 points and 6 rebounds in the game.

John Mobley Jr.

A starter for the Ohio State Buckeyes who was sidelined indefinitely due to a hand injury.

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What’s next

Ohio State will host Wisconsin on Tuesday, February 18, 2026, while Virginia will play at Georgia Tech on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.

The takeaway

This close victory for the 15th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers over the Ohio State Buckeyes showcases the competitiveness of both programs and the importance of depth, as the Cavaliers were able to overcome the loss of Ohio State starter John Mobley Jr. to injury to secure the win.