CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Double-digit scoring efforts from Sean Pedulla, Hunter Cattoor and Robbie Beran were not enough as Virginia Tech dropped a 65-57 decision to rival Virginia Wednesday night inside John Paul Jones Arena.
It was the first of two regular-season meetings as part of the Commonwealth Clash presented by Smithfield. With the win, the Cavaliers (12-5, 3-3 ACC) won their 20th straight game at home, which is the longest active home winning streak in the nation. Tech slides to 10-7, 2-4. UVA extends its lead in the Commonwealth Clash to 5.5-1.
Sean Pedulla led all scorers with 18 points on 4 for 9 shooting from beyond the arc. Hunter Cattoor returned to action after suffering a head injury in the first half against Clemson to put up 12 points, while Richmond native Robbie Beran added 10. UVA's pack-line defense forced the Hokies into 15 turnovers.
The Virginia duo of Reece Beekman and Jordan Minor led the way for the Hoos with 16 points each.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- MJ Collins and Cattoor opened the scoring for the Hokies with back-to-back 3-pointers. Pedulla followed with a 3-pointer of his own to put Tech up 9-6.
- Mekhi Long broke a 6-0 UVA scoring run with a layup. Beran ended Tech's six-minute scoring drought to put Tech down 23-15 with four minutes remaining in the half.
- As the clock expired, Cattoor made another 3-pointer to put Tech down 25-18 at the break. UVA's three turnovers to the Hokies' 10 helped the Hoos gain the advantage at the half.
- Beran opened the second half scoring with a 3-pointer. Mylyjael Poteat broke a 9-0 UVA run with a layup. Tech was down 34-23 with 16 minutes to go.
- Back-to-back 3-pointers from Tyler Nickel and Pedulla put the Hokies within seven. Another Nickel 3-pointer put Tech down 40-34 with 11 minutes left.
- Cattoor's short jump shot put the Hokies within five points. Beran's dunk cut the lead to eight with a minute and a half to go. Pedulla's 3-pointer cut the Hoos' lead to five (60-55) at the 1:01 mark, which was the closest the Hokies got the rest of the way.
NOTES
- The Hokies are now 14-42 against UVA in Charlottesville.
- The Hokies were unable to secure back-to-back wins against the Hoos for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
- This was Tech's first of two road games in a row, traveling to NC State on Saturday.
- The Hokies are still searching for their first road of the season, moving to 0-4.
UP NEXT
- The Hokies remain on the road for Saturday's noon ACC clash with NC State, which will be televised on The CW.
Gallery: (1-17-2024) MBB: at Virginia