Virginia Men Cap Special Day at JPJ With Thrilling Win

Cavaliers edge Miami 86-83 in high-level ACC battle

Feb. 22, 2026 at 3:39am

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The University of Virginia men's basketball team defeated the University of Miami 86-83 in a thrilling ACC matchup at John Paul Jones Arena. The game featured 12 lead changes and 14 ties as the two top teams in the conference battled it out in front of a sellout crowd. Virginia freshman guard Chance Mallory hit three free throws with 3.6 seconds left to give the Cavaliers the victory.

Why it matters

The win was especially meaningful for Virginia as the team dedicated the court at JPJ to former head coach Tony Bennett, who built the program into a national powerhouse during his 15 seasons in Charlottesville. The ceremony honoring Bennett's legacy featured the return of many of his former players, coaches and staff.

The details

Virginia trailed by 11 points in the first half but fought back to take a 31-30 lead on a 3-pointer by 7-foot center Johann Grünloh. Miami led 44-39 at halftime, but the Cavaliers rallied in the second half, taking the lead late on a 3-pointer by Jacari White. The Hurricanes tied the game at 83-83 with 7.5 seconds left, but Mallory drew a foul on a 3-point attempt and made all three free throws to give Virginia the victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • The court dedication ceremony for former head coach Tony Bennett took place before the game.

The players

Chance Mallory

A freshman guard for the University of Virginia who hit three free throws in the final seconds to give the Cavaliers the win.

Jacari White

A guard for the University of Virginia who hit a key 3-pointer late in the game to help the Cavaliers rally.

Tony Bennett

The former head coach of the University of Virginia men's basketball team, who was honored with a court dedication ceremony before the game.

Johann Grünloh

A 7-foot center for the University of Virginia who had 12 points, including two 3-pointers, and 5 blocked shots in the game.

Jai Lucas

The head coach of the University of Miami men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“Jacari's shot was amazing.”

— Ryan Odom, Head Coach, University of Virginia

“It was just a blessing to be recruited by him.”

— Chance Mallory, Freshman Guard, University of Virginia

“He's kind of their swagger. He's kind of their personality, him and White. When they come in the game, it's a different level of pop that comes with them, and both of them impacted the game. And both of them hit big shots.”

— Jai Lucas, Head Coach, University of Miami

What’s next

The Virginia Cavaliers will host NC State on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 7 p.m. on the ACC Network.

The takeaway

This thrilling victory over a fellow ACC contender on a day honoring their legendary former coach showcases the resiliency and competitive spirit of the current Virginia men's basketball team, who continue to uphold the program's tradition of excellence.