Home Redemption! UVA defeats Texas Tech in OT, 85-77, wins first basketball national title
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Redemption! UVA defeats Texas Tech in OT, 85-77, wins first basketball national title

Chris Graham

uva basketball national champs

A De’Andre Hunter three sent the game to overtime, and UVA dominated the extra frame, bringing home the program’s first national championship with an 85-77 win over Texas Tech.

Virginia (35-3) trailed 68-65 after a pair of free throws by Norense Odiase with 22 seconds left.

Ty Jerome drove the left side of the lane and found Hunter in the right corner for the tying three with 14 seconds to go.

Jarrett Culver missed two shots in the final seconds of regulation.

A pair of Matt Mooney jumpers put Texas Tech with 3:10 to go. Kyle Guy connected on a pair of free throws on UVA’s next possession, and then Hunter hit another three, with 2:09 to go, that would put the ‘Hoos up for good.

Virginia would close the game out going 8-of-8 at the foul line.

Hunter finished with 27 points, 22 coming after halftime, after missing his first seven shots of the game. He made eight of his last nine from the floor thereafter, including the tying and go-ahead threes.

Guy had 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting, and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

Jerome had 16 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].