The Virginia Cavaliers secured a crucial 70-66 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes, with Malik Thomas contributing 13 points and 6 rebounds to lead his team. This win marked a significant Q1 victory for Virginia, as they improved their record to 22-3, while Ohio State dropped to 16-9. The Cavaliers' balanced attack, which included 12 points from both Sam Lewis and Chance Mallory, was too much for the Buckeyes to handle, despite Bruce Thornton's impressive 28-point performance.
Bruce Thornton Scores 28 Points, Including 18 in the Second Half
The game was tightly contested from the start, with both teams scoring 37 points in the first half. However, Virginia's defense stiffened in the second half, holding Ohio State to just 29 points, while they scored 33 themselves. The Buckeyes' Amare Bynum and Christoph Tilly added 15 and 11 points, respectively, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Cavaliers' well-rounded offense. At one point, Ohio State trailed by as many as 7 points, but they managed to cut the deficit to 2 with just over 2 minutes remaining, before ultimately falling short by a margin of 4 points. The Cavaliers' ability to close out the game, shooting 42.9% from the field, was a key factor in their victory.
Bruce Thornton was the standout performer for Ohio State, scoring 28 points on an efficient 10-17 shooting from the field. Malik Thomas, on the other hand, led the charge for Virginia, recording 13 points and 6 rebounds, while also shooting 50% from the field. Other notable performers for the Cavaliers included Sam Lewis and Chance Mallory, who each scored 12 points, with Lewis adding 4 assists to his stat line. For Ohio State, Amare Bynum's 15 points and 6 rebounds were a significant contribution, but ultimately not enough to secure the win. The performances of these players were crucial in determining the outcome of the game, with Virginia's balanced attack proving to be the difference-maker.
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The Cavaliers outshot the Buckeyes 42.9% to 41.9% from the field, and also held a slight edge in rebounding, 32-29. Virginia's bench outscored Ohio State's 15-10, with 8 of those points coming from Isaiah Coleman. The Buckeyes turned the ball over 12 times, compared to Virginia's 10, which was a crucial factor in the outcome of the game. The Cavaliers' ability to capitalize on these turnovers, scoring 14 points off of them, was a key aspect of their victory. Additionally, Virginia's 6-17 shooting from beyond the arc was a significant improvement over Ohio State's 4-15, with the Cavaliers' 3-point shooting proving to be a decisive factor in the game.
The CHD Scout prediction model correctly picked Virginia as the winner, predicting a 12.1-point margin of victory. Although the actual margin was 4 points, the model was still correct in its prediction of the outcome. The predicted score of 70-82 was not accurate, but the model's assessment of Virginia's superiority was correct. The model's prediction was based on a variety of factors, including the teams' respective NET rankings, with Virginia ranked 18th and Ohio State ranked 40th. The model's ability to accurately predict the outcome of the game is a reflection of its effectiveness in evaluating team performance.
This win was a significant Q1 victory for Virginia, improving their record to 22-3 and strengthening their resume for the NCAA tournament. The Cavaliers' NET ranking of 18 will likely remain steady, while Ohio State's ranking of 40 may drop slightly. The Buckeyes' loss drops them to 16-9, but they still have a strong chance of making the tournament, given their Q1 win over Virginia earlier in the season. The outcome of this game has real consequences for both teams' tournament hopes, with Virginia solidifying their position as a top contender and Ohio State facing an uphill battle to secure a spot.
The Virginia Cavaliers want to build on this momentum as they face off against the Duke Blue Devils on February 18th. The Ohio State Buckeyes, on the other hand, will aim to bounce back against the Michigan Wolverines on February 17th. Both games should be close, with real consequences for the teams' tournament hopes. The Cavaliers want to extend their winning streak, while the Buckeyes will be seeking to regain their footing after a tough loss.