Virginia men can’t complete comeback against Tennessee, 79-72, in NCAA 2nd round

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WDBJ) - The Virginia Cavaliers couldn’t hold onto a slim lead late against Tennessee, as the third-seeded Hoos fell to the Volunteers, 79-72, ending their season with a 30-6 record.

Freshman Thijs De Ridder led the way with 22 points for Virginia, including a three point shot that put UVa ahead 71-70, with 2:03 left to play. However, Tennessee held on, thanks to to Tennessee free throws, and a few missed opportunities, including missed layups and airballed three point shots that deflated the Virginia fans in Philadelphia, ending any comeback attempt.

GAME NOTES

• Virginia finished 30-6, recording its sixth 30-win season in school history

• Head coach Ryan Odom joined Terry Holland and Tony Bennett to post 30-win seasons

• UVA finished 14-5 away from home, including a 6-3 mark on neutral courts

• Virginia is 9-17 all-time in Philadelphia, including a 2-2 in the NCAA Tournament

• UVA finished 1-4 vs. ranked opponents in 2025-26

• UVA went 12 of 35 from 3-point range

• UVA made 10 of more 3-pointers in a school-record 22 games

• UVA attempted 30 or more 3-pointers in 13 contests

• UVA trailed at the half 36-31 (4-4 when trailing at halftime)

• Tennessee used a 12-0 run to gain a 28-20 lead

• UVA made seven consecutive field goals to cut the Tennessee margin to 66-64

• Tennessee won the rebound battle 39-35

• UVA owned a 24-12 advantage in bench points

All-Time in the NCAA Tournament

• The Cavaliers are 36-26 all-time in 27 NCAA Tournament appearances

• UVA is 10-6 in the NCAA round of 32• UVA made its first NCAA Tournament appearance under first-year head coach Ryan Odom

• UVA earned its first No. 3 seed for the NCAA Tournament

• UVA won the NCAA championship in 2019 and also made Final Four appearances in 1981 and 1984

• Odom is 4-5 in five NCAA tournaments as a head coach (2-1 at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne, 1-1 at UMBC, 0-1 at Utah State, 0-1 at VCU and 1-1 at UVA)

Series Notes

• The Cavaliers own an 8-7 advantage over the Volunteers in the all-time series that dates back to 1917

• Tennessee has a three-game win streak in the series

• UVA is 3-3 against Tennessee on neutral courts

• UVA is 2-2 vs. Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament

Player Notes

• Double Figure Scorers: Thijs De Ridder (22), Malik Thomas (12), Jacari White (10), Chance Mallory (10)

• De Ridder netted his 12 20-point game, most since Malcolm Brogdon’s 18 in 2015-16

• De Ridder has reached double figures in 28 games

• De Ridder made a career-high four 3-pointers

• De Ridder (4 3-pointers) has multiple 3-pointers in 10 games

• Thomas has reached double figures in 27 games (82 career)

• Thomas (3 3-pointers) has multiple 3-pointers in 19 games

• White (2 3-pointers) has multiple 3-pointers in 19 games

• White has reached double figures in 14 games (65 career)

• Mallory has reached double figures in 20 games

• UVA is 12-2 when White scores in double figures

• Ugonna Onyenso (2 blocks) has multiple blocks in 25 games

• Johann Grünloh (2 blocks) has multiple blocks in 21 games

• This is 28th time this season that Grünloh and Onyenso have recorded a block in the same game, most in a season by any ACC duo since Clemson’s K.J. McDaniels and Landry Nnoko had 28 in 2013-14