No. 13 Cavaliers Hold Off Demon Deacons at JPJ

Virginia clinches No. 2 seed in ACC tournament with 75-70 win over Wake Forest

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The 13th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers defeated the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 75-70 at John Paul Jones Arena on Tuesday night, clinching the No. 2 seed in next week's ACC tournament. Despite a late push from Wake Forest, the Cavaliers made enough plays down the stretch to secure the victory.

Why it matters

The win was an important one for Virginia, as it clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming ACC tournament. This is a significant accomplishment for the Cavaliers, who had to rebuild their roster after losing several key players from last season.

The details

Virginia led by 8 points at halftime but had to hold off a late surge from Wake Forest. The Cavaliers shot 50% from the field in the second half, including 7-of-15 from 3-point range, to maintain their lead. Thijs De Ridder led Virginia with 16 points, while Johann Grünloh added 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
  • Virginia clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming ACC tournament with the win.

The players

Thijs De Ridder

A 6-foot-9 forward for the Virginia Cavaliers who led the team with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block.

Johann Grünloh

A 7-foot freshman center for the Virginia Cavaliers who had 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

Dallin Hall

A graduate student for the Virginia Cavaliers who made 4 free throws in the final 15 seconds to seal the victory.

Mekhi Mason

A player for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons who scored a team-high 26 points.

Juke Harris

A player for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons who scored 21 points.

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What they’re saying

“I thought our guys did a nice job finishing it out. I would have liked to have gotten [the lead] up a little more, but it didn't happen.”

— Ryan Odom, Head Coach, Virginia Cavaliers (pcpatriot.com)

“He's so skilled, and he's physical.”

— Steve Forbes, Head Coach, Wake Forest Demon Deacons (pcpatriot.com)

“Offensively, we were better [in the second half]. Defensively, we weren't quite as good. But Wake had a lot to do with that. They really just test you with the way that they play offensively.”

— Ryan Odom, Head Coach, Virginia Cavaliers (pcpatriot.com)

“The key for me lately has been my self-confidence, believing in myself. I kind of lost that in, I don't know, January. But now in the last couple of games it came back [after] talking to Coach, talking to my teammates, having my family here. That helped me.”

— Johann Grünloh, Freshman Center, Virginia Cavaliers (pcpatriot.com)

What’s next

The Cavaliers will now turn their attention to the ACC tournament, where they will be the No. 2 seed. Their first game will be on Thursday, March 12th.

The takeaway

Virginia's ability to overcome a late push from Wake Forest and clinch the No. 2 seed in the ACC tournament is a testament to the team's resilience and growth throughout the season. The Cavaliers have proven they can win in different ways, which will serve them well as they look to make a deep run in the postseason.