Virginia Defeats Georgia Tech, Will Be #3 Seed In ACC Tourney (3-9-24)

By: Ty Tracy

All Photo Credit: UVA Athletics

GT vs UVA

Senior night for the UVA Cavaliers players especially for senior guard Reece Beekman without an outstanding performance to finish his last home as a UVA cavalier with 21 points, nine assists, and six rebounds while shooting 80% from the field and 75% from the three points land as well. The Cavaliers dominated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 72-57 to clinch the three seed and won’t have to play until Thursday, March 14th. The Jackets played the Cavaliers even for the first 11 minutes of the game, but Virginia outscored Tech 23-9 over the final nine minutes of the first half, making their last six shots of the period to take control of the game heading into the break. The Cavaliers made seven three-point field goals and connected on 54 percent from the floor. Virginia was efficient offensively with 18 assists on 29 made field goals and committed just five turnovers with sharpshooter Isaac McKneely scoring 16 shooting 50% from the three-point land, and Taine Murray added 12 points off the bench along with Beekman 21 points. The Cavaliers have been held to fewer than 50 points six times this season.

Beekman also became the UVA Cavaliers All-Time leader in steals after getting three steals in during the game. Head Coach Tony Bennett gave Reece Beekman a lot of praise during the press conference saying “I want to say this: A lot of stuff gets talked about the state of college basketball. Well, let’s celebrate a guy like Reece Beekman, who came to Virginia and stayed four years.”

“He’s always been a good player, but he’s taken a step each year, and he’s improved,” Bennett said, “and he’s been here for four years. Let’s talk about that. I know we talked a lot about the transfer portal. I know we talk a lot about NIL … He’s the career leader in steals, he’s won two ACC [regular-season] championships. He’s done so much, and that’s what’s right [about college basketball], and it’s good to see.”

Now the ACC conference tournament starts Tuesday March 12th. UNC and Duke are sitting at the one and two seed spots while UVA is sitting at the third seed spot. They face the winner between No. 6 seed Clemson, No. 11 seed Boston College, and No. 14 seed Miami on Thursday night. The Cavaliers experienced considerable turbulence during the regular season their nine defeats, seven were by at least 16 points. Virginia lost by 25 to Duke last weekend. Beekman commented on the conference tournament saying, “I feel like we put ourselves in a great position for postseason play,” and “I think we’ve just got to build off this one today and try to get better.”