Virginia Cavaliers vs Pittsburgh Panthers Match Player Stats On Jan 19, 2022

Reece Beekman came to the rescue for offensively challenged Virginia, scoring 19 points and dealing eight assists to lead the Cavaliers to a 66-61 victory Wednesday night at Pittsburgh.

In a game featuring the two lowest-scoring teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Virginia (11-7, 5-3) suddenly found its offense, shooting 50% from the floor. The Cavaliers took the lead early in the second half and held it the rest of the way in completing a regular season sweep of Pitt.

Jayden Gardner scored 14 points and Kadin Shedrick overcame foul trouble to make 6-of-6 shots, scoring all 12 of his points in the second half.

Beekman went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the first half and was key at the end as he scored two baskets in the final 3:03 and passed to Armaan Franklin for the game-clinching bucket with 27 seconds left.

Pitt (7-11, 2-5) got 23 points and seven rebounds from John Hugley but Virginia held him to one point over the final 13:17. The Panthers shot 50% from the floor but their 15 turnovers were costly as Virginia turned them into 21 points.

Jamarius Burton had 12 points and Femi Odukale led a late Pitt charge as he scored 10 points.

The Panthers were down 45-44 midway through the second half but the Cavaliers took control with a nine-point run. Gardner drilled a jumper to trigger the spree and Kihei Clark finished it with a 3-pointer as Virginia took a 54-44 lead with 7:29 left.

Both teams got off to a slow start. At the midway point of the first half it was a 10-10 game. But when the pace quickened, Pitt thrived, jumping to a 22-17 lead behind the inside presence of Hugley.

In the last three minutes of the half, Virginia answered with an offensive explosion as it scored 12 points in five possessions. Beekman made two 3-pointers and Gardner grinded inside for a pair of buckets at the Cavaliers took a 29-25 lead at the break.

-Field Level Media