No. 13 Virginia Holds Off Virginia Tech for 76-72 Win

Cavaliers clinch No. 2 seed in ACC Tournament, Hokies' NCAA hopes take hit

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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No. 13 Virginia defeated Virginia Tech 76-72 in a closely contested matchup on Saturday. Ugo Onyenso and Malik Thomas each scored 16 points for the Cavaliers, who had already secured the No. 2 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament. The Hokies, who entered the game squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble, were led by Ben Hammond's 21 points and five assists, but ultimately fell short against their in-state rivals.

Why it matters

This game had significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations. Virginia has already locked up a spot in the NCAA Tournament, but the win helps solidify their seeding. For Virginia Tech, this was a missed opportunity to bolster their resume and improve their chances of earning an at-large bid to the Big Dance.

The details

The Cavaliers raced out to a 12-0 lead to start the game, but the Hokies fought back to make it a six-point game at halftime. Virginia then used an 8-0 run in the second half to regain control of the contest. The Hokies were unable to overcome the deficit, despite Ben Hammond's strong performance.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
  • Virginia had already clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The players

Ugo Onyenso

A key contributor for the Cavaliers, scoring 16 points in the win.

Malik Thomas

Also scored 16 points for Virginia in the victory.

Ben Hammond

Led the Hokies with 21 points and 5 assists in the losing effort.

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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 (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

Both teams await their placements in the upcoming ACC Tournament.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the contrasting fortunes of the two in-state rivals, with Virginia solidifying their NCAA Tournament standing while Virginia Tech's bubble hopes took a hit.