Notre Dame Overcomes Virginia's Late Surge at John Paul Jones Arena
In a closely contested conference game, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish emerged victorious over the Virginia Cavaliers with a final score of 86-76. The Fighting Irish now stand at 19 in rank, while the Cavaliers remain unranked. The home game for Virginia ended without altering their win-loss record significantly.
The Cavaliers fought valiantly on their home court at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, VA. Despite trailing in the early quarters with scores of 16 and 17 respectively, they mounted an impressive comeback in the fourth quarter by putting up 29 points—their highest-scoring quarter of the match. However, this surge was not enough to overcome Notre Dame's consistent performance throughout the game.
Virginia showcased remarkable accuracy from the free-throw line with a near-perfect percentage of ninety-four percent but struggled from beyond the arc with only thirty percent efficiency on three-point attempts. Their overall field goal percentage stood at forty-two percent compared to Notre Dame's forty-five percent.
The Cavaliers' defense managed to block seven shots and made seven steals during play but were outdone by Notre Dame's thirteen steals and five blocks. In terms of ball handling, Virginia recorded seventeen assists but also turned over possession twenty-three times which proved costly against Notre Dame’s sixteen assists and fifteen turnovers.
Rebounding was one area where Virginia excelled slightly more than their opponents; they grabbed thirty-seven rebounds including seven offensive boards that led to eleven second-chance points. Nevertheless, personal fouls became a concern for them as they committed thirty-five fouls leading to two foulouts.
On an individual level, players from both teams exhibited commendable performances but it was ultimately Notre Dame who capitalized on opportunities better—scoring twenty-six fast break points and matching that number with points off turnovers.
Looking ahead for fans of the Virginia Cavaliers: The team is scheduled to face off against Florida State Seminoles at Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, FL on January 21st at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. This upcoming contest will be available for viewing via ACC Network Extra online broadcast network ensuring fans won’t miss any action as UVA seeks redemption following this tough loss.