#24 Maryland made it interesting, getting within four after #4 UVA opened up a 17-point second-half lead, but the ‘Hoos got the win, 76-71, Wednesday in the ACC/B1G Challenge.
Virginia (7-0) led 39-30 at the half, and opened the second half on a 9-1 run that gave the Cavaliers a 48-31 lead on a Jack Salt layup with 16:29 left.
The Terps (6-1) would make a game of it, whittling the lead down to four, at 61-57, on an Anthony Cowan layup with 4:05 left.
A 9-3 UVA run would push the lead back to 10, but Maryland had one last run, getting the margin back to four, at 72-68, on an Aaron Wiggins three with 32 seconds left.
Braxton Key made both ends of two-shot foul with 30 seconds left, then Key and freshman guard Kihei Clark teamed up with De’Andre Hunter to get the big stop on the other end.
Hunter blocked a three-point try by Wiggins, after pressure by Clark, and a defensive rebound by Key.
Key made 1-of-2 at the line to push the UVA lead to 75-68.
Eric Ayala made a three with three seconds left to make the final score look better for Maryland.
The Terrapins shot 54 percent (27-of-50) on the night, but were beset by turnovers. UVA forced 14 Maryland turnovers, while the ‘Hoos committed only two, and the Cavaliers had a 16-4 advantage in points off turnovers on the night.
Virginia shot 47.5 percent (28-of-59) from the floor, and 45.5 percent (10-of-22) from three-point range.
Kyle Guy had 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting to lead the ‘Hoos. Ty Jerome had 17, also on 6-of-14 shooting.
Hunter had 15 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Salt posted a career-high 12 points, on 6-of-7 shooting, five dunks and a layup, to go with a team-high seven rebounds in 32 minutes of floor time.
Key had 10 points in 11 minutes off the bench.
Clark, in his second career start, had four points and four assists in 35 minutes.
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