Mangok Mathiang hit a 15-footer with 2.5 seconds left to lift #14 Louisville to a 59-57 win over second-ranked UVA on Saturday.
A three-pointer by Malcolm Brogdon with 13 seconds to go had given Virginia (28-2, 16-2 ACC) a 57-56 lead. Cardinals coach Rick Pitino called a timeout to set up a play, but it wasn’t likely run for Mathiang, who hadn’t shot the ball from the field all game.
Terry Rozier, who had been double-teamed on a screen-and-roll, found Mathiang, who averages 2.6 points per game on 37.9 percent shooting, at the foul line, and the 6’10” sophomore didn’t hesitate.
Louisville (24-7, 12-6 ACC) jumped out to a 15-3 lead in the opening 5:51, and it was 19-5 Louisville at the 12:30 mark before the Cavs started chipping away, cutting the lead to five, 30-25, at the break.
The Cards led by as many as nine early in the second half before Virginia went on a 15-4 run to lead 40-38 on a three by Brogdon with 13:29 to go.
Louisville responded with a 14-4 run over the next 7:33 and seemed to have the game in hand when Montrezl Harrell hit a pair of free throws to put the Cardinals up 52-44, but as in the first half, the Cavs chipped away, limiting Louisville to two field goals over the next 5:54.
Harrell had 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead Louisville, which shot 46.9 percent (23-of-49) from the field.
Brogdon had 17 for UVA, 16 in the second half. Darion Atkins added 10 points and seven rebounds for the ‘Hoos, who shot 47.7 percent from the field (21-of-44) and was 8-of-20 (40 percent) from three-point range.
Team Notes
- Virginia falls to 28-2, 16-2 ACC.
- Virginia held Louisville scoreless for 5:21 in the first half, marking the 26th the Cavaliers have held opponents scoreless for 5 or more minutes.
- The Cavaliers trailed by 14 points at 12:45 in the first half, marking their largest deficit of the season.
- Virginia and Louisville split the season series at 1-1.
- The Cavaliers are 4-2 vs. ranked opponents.
- No. 1 seed Virginia will play No. 8 seed Clemson or No. 9 seed Florida State in the ACC Tournament on Thursday, March 12 at 12 p.m.
Player Notes
- Malcolm Brogdon (17 points) scored in double figures for the 24th time this season (58th career).
- Darion Atkins (10 points) scored in double figures for the sixth time this season (12th career).
- Anthony Gill (9 points) had his 6-game double-figure scoring streak end.
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