No. 19 Illinois fades late, allowing a 13-0 run in the final minutes in a 70-61 loss to No. 16 Virginia

LAS VEGAS — Reece Beekman and No. 16 Virginia capped an emotional week by occurring a late 13-point run to defeat No. 19 Illinois 70-61 on Sunday to win the Continental Tire Important Occasion.

The Cavaliers (4-0) trailed 58-56 with 3 ½ minutes left after they broke away from Illinois (4-1).

Beekman scored 17 factors and was the match MVP. Kihei Clark and Jayden Gardner every had 12 for Virginia.

Jayden Epps scored 14 factors and Coleman Hawkins 10 for the Illini.

The sport was performed one week after Virginia soccer gamers Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry had been fatally shot after a discipline journey to see a play in Washington. Two others had been wounded.

Former Virginia soccer participant Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. faces three counts of second-degree homicide and different costs.

Virginia gamers wore shirts to honor these killed and locked arms in tribute earlier than the sport.

The crew canceled its recreation Monday in opposition to Northern Iowa however selected to play in Las Vegas. Ahead Kadin Shedrick stated Friday that being in Las Vegas was therapeutic.

The sport was shut all through, with neither crew pulling away till Virginia’s late run.

Each groups’ high scorers from Friday’s victories additionally had been held in verify.

Virginia’s Armaan Franklin, who scored 26 factors in opposition to No. 5 Baylor, had simply 9 in opposition to Illinois. Illini guard Terrence Shannon Jr. additionally scored 9 factors after placing up 29 in opposition to No. 8 UCLA in going 8 of 9 from 3-point vary. Shannon made simply 1 of 5 on Sunday.

Virginia grew to become the primary crew from the Atlantic Coast Convention to win this match, which is in its ninth 12 months. The Pac-12 Convention received three of the earlier 4 tournaments — Arizona State in 2018, Colorado in 2019 and Arizona final 12 months. Baylor of the Huge 12 in 2020 was the one crew from one other convention throughout that stretch, and the Bears’ hopes to turn out to be the primary two-time winner led to Friday’s 86-79 loss to Virginia.

Each groups take a noticeable step down in competitors Friday, with Illinois enjoying host to Lindenwood of the Ohio Valley Convention and Virginia returning dwelling to play Maryland-Japanese Shore of the Mid-Japanese Athletic Convention.