UVA holds off Virginia Tech for 20th consecutive victory at home

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Virginia defeated in-state rival Virginia Tech 65-57 on Wednesday night at John Paul Jones Arena to extend its nation’s leading home win streak to 20.

In a familiar script, the Cavaliers (12-5, 3-3 ACC) rode a strong defensive effort to put away the scrappy Hokies. UVA forced 15 turnovers (10 in the first half) and won the rebound battle 33-32 to avoid its first three-game losing skid since 2021. The Cavaliers entered the contest with consecutive losses on the road, including a 19-point setback at Wake Forest on Saturday.

Tech (10-7, 2-4) shot only 39 percent. Of its 21 field goals, 11 came from behind the arc.

Making his second consecutive start, forward Jordan Minor scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed five rebounds to help spark the Cavaliers’ offensive attack. Senior point guard Reece Beekman also scored 16 points while registering four assists and four steals.

Cavaliers guard Dante Harris made his much-anticipated return to the court early in the first half after missing the previous 10 games with an ankle injury. He provided a major boost, posting five points and a team-high five assists.

Reigning ACC Player of the Week Sean Pedulla scored a game-high 18 points for the Hokies while adding five assists, six rebounds and seven turnovers. Guard Hunter Cattoor poured in 12 points, and Robbie Beran contributed 10 points and six boards.

Tech cut the deficit to 60-55 on Pedulla’s fourth 3-pointer with 1:01 remaining, and UVA answered by scoring five of the final seven points to salt away the victory, its fifth straight against Tech on its home court.

The Hokies fell to 0-4 in road games this season. They travel to N.C. State on Saturday.

The Cavaliers ended a two-game skid and will look to grab their first road win of the season Saturday at Georgia Tech.

Cattoor returned to Virginia Tech’s starting lineup after missing Saturday’s loss to Miami with a concussion. He is now tied for the second-most games played in school history (135), only one behind all-time leader Malcolm Delaney.

He went 2-for-5 on 3-point attempts to increase his school record tally to 290 career triples.

UVA went 4-for-14 from 3-point range. Beekman buried two long-range shots, while Jacob Groves sank the other two.

The Cavaliers have held 45 straight ACC opponents to fewer than 70 points in their home arena.