Virginia's Late Game Heroics Secure the Win

First Half Highlights

Manhattan hit its sixth three-pointer of the first half from Fraser Roxburgh. The Cavaliers were often leaving the Jaspers open on the perimeter. Cofie snagged an offensive rebound after an Ames miss and scored off the glass. Virginia took a seven-point lead to the halftime break.

Andrew Rohde got the scoring started with a nice crossover move for a smooth floater in the paint. Dai Dai Ames got deep penetration and dished to Blake Buchanan for a wide-open push shot. Masiah Gilyard used a screen to get baseline and scored with a reverse layup. Ames got a good look from the left wing and swished the three-pointer. UVA got a stop and then Isaac McKneely used a Buchanan screen to knock down an open triple from the top of the key. Buchanan sold out for a steal but couldn't come away with it, leading to a wide-open three-pointer for Wesley Robinson. Buchanan made up for it with another push shot from just inside the free throw line. McKneely crossed over and drove in for a tough layup. Robinson got another wide-open look from the top of the key and swished it for his second triple. Buchanan posted up on Robinson and got a hook shot to go with a soft touch. Shaquil Bender slashed to the paint and scored with ease. Buchanan nearly lost the ball but regained control and hit a hook shot plus a foul. The Idaho native led all scorers with eight points early on.

Second Half Dramatics

Dai Dai Ames pulled up and hit a mid-range jumper to open the scoring in the second half. Ames grabbed an offensive rebound off his own miss and kicked out to McKneely for a wide-open three. That was McKneely's second three-point attempt of the game (not good), but he made both (good). McKneely came around a screen and took a contested long two-point jumper and got it to fall with a friendly roll. Rohde worked the pick and roll with Buchanan and hit a sweet floater. Manhattan fired back with a three-pointer from Jaden Winston. Elijah Saunders used a nice series of post moves and eventually scored off the glass with his left hand. Rohde had his shot blocked and Manhattan cashed in on the other end with an open three for Winston.

Dai Dai Ames tweaks his ankle and is pulled out of the game. We'll see if he comes back in. Rohde backs down his defender and hits a short fadeaway jumper. UVA gets another stop and then Rohde drives to the basket and scores off the glass. Manhattan is on a five-minute scoring drought and Virginia has scored the last seven points to open up its largest lead of the game at 58 - 42. Manhattan calls timeout.

Robinson beats Buchanan on a backdoor cut and Roxburgh finds him for a layup. Manhattan breaks down the UVA defense again leading to yet another wide-open three-pointer, this time for Shaquil Bender. It's an 8 - 0 run for the Jaspers to cut the deficit back down to seven points. Buchanan ends a near three-minute scoring drought by corralling an offensive rebound and scoring off the backboard plus a foul. He completes the three-point play with the free throw. Ames sends a beautiful bounce pass under the basket to Saunders, who scores off the glass. Virginia has pushed its lead back up to 12 points.

Final Moments

Rohde comes up with a steal to just about secure the win. McKneely is fouled and he makes both free throws. Dinkins gets inside for a layup and Manhattan continues to foul to stop the clock. McKneely makes both free throws again. Ames commits his fifth personal foul and is replaced by TJ Power. Gilyard makes both free throws. Virginia breaks the press one last time and dribbles out the clock. UVA wins 74 - 65.