Isaac McKneely, Virginia extend Miami's ACC skid

Field Level Media|published: Wed 29th January, 21:27 2025

Jan 29, 2025; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Taine Murray (10) passes the basketball as Miami Hurricanes guard Matthew Cleveland (0) defends during the first half at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Isaac McKneely scored a season-high 26 points, Taine Murray added a career-high 20 and Virginia picked up its first road win of the season, an 82-71 triumph over Miami on Wednesday in Coral Gables, Fla.

McKneely shot 6 of 12 from 3-point range. Murray, who had a combined 20 points in his previous eight games, was making just his fourth start of the season for the short-handed Cavaliers (10-11, 3-7 Atlantic Coast Conference). He added a career-best seven assists.

Blake Buchanan contributed 16 points and nine rebounds for Virginia, which shot 54.9 percent from the field and 45.8 percent (11 of 24) from beyond the arc to improve to 1-5 on the road.

Matthew Cleveland scored 27 points for Miami (4-17, 0-10), which has gone nearly a full calendar year without a victory in ACC action. The Hurricanes have dropped 10 straight games this season after losing their final nine last year, and they haven't won in league play since Feb. 3, 2024, against Virginia Tech.

Brandon Johnson added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Hurricanes, who shot 51.0 percent from the field.

Down by 15 points in the first half and by 11 at halftime, Miami sliced the deficit to 47-44 on Johnson's dunk with 13:28 to play but could get no closer.

After Cleveland's three-point play pulled the Hurricanes within 64-60, McKneely responded with a 3-pointer for a seven-point lead with 4:26 to play.

McKneely's sixth triple put Virginia up 74-64 with 2:13 remaining. Miami got within five down the stretch, but the Cavaliers converted 7 of 8 free throws in the final minute.

Virginia was missing starters Elijah Saunders and Andrew Rohde -- its second- and third-leading scorers at 11.8 and 8.7 points per game, respectively -- due to injuries.

The Cavaliers led 23-14 after a 14-0 run that included four 3-pointers, three by McKneely. The Hurricanes turned it over five times during a five-minute scoring drought.

Virginia's lead reached double figures at 29-19 on Jacob Cofie's layup with 5:40 left in the half. The advantage grew to 38-23 on Murray's 3-pointer with 1:55 to play, and the Cavaliers led 40-29 at intermission.

--Field Level Media