No. 18 Virginia Cruises Past Pitt in Defensive Battle

Cavaliers' stifling defense limits Panthers in 67-47 victory

Feb. 4, 2026 at 4:15am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 18th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers used a dominant defensive performance to cruise past the Pittsburgh Panthers 67-47 on Tuesday night in Charlottesville. Sam Lewis scored 15 points, Thijs De Ridder recorded a double-double, and the Cavaliers' defense forced 17 turnovers and limited Pitt to just 37% shooting from the field.

Why it matters

Virginia's victory keeps them in the hunt for a top seed in the upcoming ACC tournament, while Pitt's struggles continue as they fall to 2-8 in conference play. The Cavaliers' stifling defense has been a hallmark of their season, as they have held all of their opponents under 50% shooting so far.

The details

The Cavaliers jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 14 points in the first half. They outrebounded the smaller Panthers 38-31 and scored 23 points off Pitt's turnovers. Sam Lewis hit 4 of 8 3-pointers, Thijs De Ridder had 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Chance Mallory added 11 points and four steals for Virginia.

  • The game tipped off at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 4, 2026.

The players

Sam Lewis

A Virginia guard who scored 15 points, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range.

Thijs De Ridder

The reigning ACC Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, De Ridder recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds for Virginia.

Chance Mallory

A Virginia guard who scored 11 points and had 4 steals.

Cameron Corhen

A Pittsburgh player who led the Panthers with 11 points.

Nojus Indrusaitis

A Pittsburgh player who also scored 11 points.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Our defense was the key tonight. We were able to get stops and turn them into points on the other end.”

— Sam Lewis, Virginia Guard

What’s next

Virginia will look to continue their strong defensive play as they prepare to face North Carolina on Saturday, February 8th. Pitt will try to get back on track when they host Miami on Wednesday, February 12th.

The takeaway

Virginia's stifling defense has been the backbone of their success this season, and their ability to limit opponents' scoring opportunities was on full display in this dominant victory over Pitt. The Cavaliers' commitment to defense has kept them in the hunt for a top seed in the ACC tournament.