No. 14 Virginia edges Miami, extends win streak to 8

Chance Mallory made three free throws with 3.6 seconds left to lift the Cavaliers to victory.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 9:33pm

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No. 14 Virginia extended its winning streak to eight games with an 86-83 victory over Miami in Atlantic Coast Conference action on Saturday in Charlottesville, Virginia. Chance Mallory made three free throws with 3.6 seconds left to seal the win for the Cavaliers, who shot 58% from the field and 50% from 3-point range. Reserve Jacari White led six Virginia players in double figures with 17 points, while Tre Donaldson and Shelton Henderson each scored 18 points for Miami, whose four-game winning streak was snapped.

Why it matters

This win keeps Virginia in second place in the ACC standings behind No. 3 Duke, as the Cavaliers continue their strong season and look to make a push for a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. For Miami, the loss is a setback in their quest to secure a spot in the tournament, as they fell to 1-4 against ranked opponents this season.

The details

Virginia trailed by 11 points in the first half but rallied to take a 31-30 lead on consecutive 3-pointers by Jacari White and Johann Grunloh. The Hurricanes scored the last eight points of the half to take a 44-39 lead at the break. The Cavaliers started the second half with a 12-3 run to take the lead, and they later used an 11-2 run to build a 68-61 advantage. Miami fought back to take a 73-70 lead, but Virginia regained the lead and held on for the victory, with Mallory's late free throws sealing the win.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 21, 2026 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
  • Virginia trailed by 11 points in the first half.
  • Chance Mallory made three free throws with 3.6 seconds left to clinch the win for Virginia.

The players

Chance Mallory

A Virginia player who made three free throws with 3.6 seconds left to secure the win for the Cavaliers.

Jacari White

A reserve player for Virginia who led the team with 17 points.

Tre Donaldson

A Miami player who scored 18 points in the loss.

Shelton Henderson

A Miami player who also scored 18 points in the loss.

Malik Reneau

A Miami player who scored 16 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This game was a closely contested battle between two top teams in the ACC, with Virginia's strong shooting and late-game execution proving to be the difference. The win keeps the Cavaliers in the hunt for a high NCAA Tournament seed, while the loss is a setback for Miami's tournament hopes.