Feb 13, 2024; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Andrew Rohde (4) huddles with teammates during a stoppage in play in the second half against the Pittsburgh Panthers at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
BALTIMORE — Isaac McKneely made all six of his 3-point attempts and finished with 23 points Friday to lead Virginia past Villanova 70-60 in the Hall of Fame Series.
McKneely was 8 of 9 from the field, while Andrew Rohde added 13 points and three 3-pointers for the Cavaliers (3-0) after missing a game with a back injury.
Virginia hit more triples (14) than doubles (11) and shot 56 percent from distance. Jacob Cofie (12 points) scored two three-pointers.
Eric Dixon scored 20 points with eight rebounds and Jordan Longino finished with 10 points and three steals for the Wildcats (2-3), who shot just 9 of 32 (28.1 percent) from 3-point range and were outshot by 51 percent to 35.2 percent overall.
Virginia led by five points at halftime and took control after Dixon’s layup pulled Villanova within 39-33 with 17:15 left. McKneely and Cofie each hit a 3-pointer to fuel an 11-0 run that extended the lead to 50-33 with 12:13 left.
The Wildcats’ next field goal didn’t come until Tyler Perkins’ 3-pointer made it 52-38 at the 10:42 mark.
Villanova soon cut the lead to 55-45, but McKneely hit his fifth three-pointer to bring the game within 13 points. McKneely put the game away later with his four-point play, which extended the Cavaliers’ lead to 64-48 with 2:10 left.
Eight of Virginia’s 11 shots in the first half came from distance, including seven in a row during a 9 1/2-minute stretch after Villanova took a 9-2 lead.
Rohde’s second 3-pointer pulled the Cavaliers even at 11 points and sparked a 12-0 run that Cofie capped with his only long jumper of the first half. Rohde later completed Virginia’s streak of seven consecutive 3-pointers to make it 23-14 after 6:38.
The Cavaliers’ final 3-pointer of the period came 3:58 into the game by McKneely, increasing the lead to 28-16. The Wildcats rallied in the final minute, with a 3-pointer from Perkins and a four-point play from Dixon to pull within five.
–Tanner Malinowski, Field Level Media
