No. 23 Virginia Cavaliers Cruise Past Stanford Cardinal 70-55 in ACC Showdown (1-10-26)

By: Xavier Jones

Headline Photo Credit: Arturo Jones-LMS Network

Charlottesville, VA — On a crisp Saturday afternoon at the sold-out John Paul Jones Arena, the No. 23 Virginia Cavaliers (14-2, 3-1 ACC) delivered a defensive masterclass, pulling away from the Stanford Cardinal (13-4, 2-2 ACC) for a convincing 70-55 victory. This marked Virginia’s third straight win and extended its home unbeaten streak to 11 games dating back to last season, improving to a perfect 10-0 at home in 2025-26. The Cavaliers, honoring their 1995 team during the game, showcased their trademark stifling defense, forcing 6 shot-clock violations and holding Stanford’s high-powered offense well below its season average. 

The game started competitively, with Virginia building a slim 41-34 lead at halftime thanks to balanced scoring and timely three-pointers. Stanford hung tough early, led by senior guard Benny Gealer’s 13 first-half points on efficient shooting. However, the Cardinal’s star freshman Ebuka Okorie, who entered averaging over 22 points per game and fresh off a 31-point explosion against Virginia Tech, was bottled up from the tip. Okorie managed just one point in the opening 10 minutes and went scoreless in the second half, finishing with 14 points on 5-of-20 shooting—a testament to Virginia’s pack-line defense that disrupted Stanford’s rhythm throughout.

Coming out of the break, Virginia wasted no time asserting dominance. A decisive 9-0 run early in the second half pushed the lead to 51-37 with 15 minutes remaining, effectively breaking Stanford’s spirit. The Cavaliers outscored the Cardinal 29-21 over the final 20 minutes, ballooning the margin to as much as 22 points before the final buzzer. Key to the surge was junior forward Thjis De Ridder, who erupted for 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including a crucial three-pointer and perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. De Ridder’s versatility—scoring inside, from mid-range, and beyond the arc—proved too much for Stanford’s frontcourt to handle.

Supporting De Ridder was freshman guard Chance Mallory, who added 13 points, including two threes, while grabbing four rebounds and dishing three without a single turnover. Senior guard Malik Thomas contributed 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds, providing energy on both ends despite going 0-for-5 from deep. Virginia’s bench was thin due to the absence of star guard Jacari White (wrist injury), with the team relying on just three reserves, but big man Ugonna Onyenso made his presence felt with five blocks and six rebounds in 20 minutes off the pine. 

For Stanford, the loss snapped a two-game ACC winning streak that included upsets over Louisville and Virginia Tech. Beyond Gealer’s 15 points (5-of-12, 3-of-9 from three), the Cardinal struggled to find consistent scoring. Okorie’s inefficiency was glaring, and forward Jeremy Dent-Smith chipped in five points off the bench. Stanford shot a dismal 32% from the field (18-of-56) and 19% from three (5-of-26), while committing 13 turnovers that Virginia converted into easy transition opportunities. The Cardinal did battle on the glass, grabbing 12 offensive rebounds, but couldn’t capitalize against Virginia’s superior interior defense, which racked up seven blocks. 

Team-wise, Virginia dominated the stat sheet with 44% field goal shooting (25-of-57), 27% from three (6-of-22), and a rebounding edge of 37-33. The Cavaliers dished out 17 assists on 25 made baskets, showcasing crisp ball movement, while holding advantages in steals (3-7, though Stanford led here) and blocks (7-4). Turnovers were low for Virginia at just nine, reflecting their disciplined style under Ryan Odom. Stanford, meanwhile, managed only nine assists, highlighting their offensive stagnation against one of the nation’s top defenses. 

This win bolsters Virginia’s position in the crowded ACC standings, where they now sit at 3-1 in conference play. The Cavaliers’ ability to win without White underscores their depth and defensive identity, but they’ll face a stern test next against No. 20 Louisville on the road Tuesday—their first ranked opponent of the season. For Stanford, the defeat exposes vulnerabilities against elite defenses, particularly in containing their reliance on Okorie. The Cardinal head to No. 17 North Carolina on Wednesday, hoping to regroup and rediscover their scoring punch. 

In front of 14,637 fans—including members of the storied 1995 Virginia squad—the Cavaliers not only secured a key conference victory but also delivered a statement: John Paul Jones Arena remains a fortress, and this team is primed for a deep March run.

Box Score Highlights

Stanford Cardinal (55)

• Benny Gealer: 15 pts, 4 reb, 3 sal

• Ebuka Okorie: 14 pts, 6 reb

• Jeremy Dent-Smith: 5 pts

• Team: 18-56 FG (32%), 5-26 3PT (19%), 14-17 FT (82%), 33 reb, 9 ast, 13 TO

Virginia Cavaliers (70)

• Thjis De Ridder: 22 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast

• Chance Mallory: 13 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast

• Malik Thomas: 11 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast

• Ugonna Onyenso: 5 pts, 6 reb, 5 blk

• Team: 25-57 FG (44%), 6-22 3PT (27%), 14-17 FT (82%), 37 reb, 17 ast, 9 TO