CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Elijah Saunders delivered an impressive performance, scoring 22 points, while Isaac McKneely contributed 15 points, including four three-pointers, as the Virginia Cavaliers fought back in the second half to secure a 70-67 victory over NC State on Tuesday night.

Blake Buchanan had put Virginia ahead by 12 points at 67-55 with just over five minutes left in the game. However, the Cavaliers struggled to find the basket again, failing to make any field goals for the remainder of the contest. NC State took advantage of this dry spell, starting with three consecutive offensive rebounds that sparked a 10-1 scoring run, bringing them within three at 68-65 with just over a minute left.

As the Wolfpack consumed the shot clock on their next possession, Jayden Taylor attempted a bank shot that didn’t go in, allowing Saunders to pull down the crucial defensive rebound. He then went to the line, making both free throws with 15.5 seconds on the clock, extending Virginia’s lead to five points.

NC State’s Marcus Hill quickly responded with a basket, cutting the lead down to three with only 10.9 seconds left. In a tense moment, Saunders missed the first free throw of a one-and-one situation with just 3.9 seconds remaining. Hill rebounded and passed the ball to Michael O’Connell, who attempted a hurried shot from beyond midcourt as the clock expired, but it did not reach the rim.

Andrew Rohde made his mark as well for Virginia, adding 10 points and seven assists to the team’s efforts. On the opposing side, NC State’s Taylor led his team with 14 points, while teammates Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and Marcus Hill contributed 12 points each.

The Wolfpack had a strong first half, going into the break up 39-29, and began the second half by scoring the first four points to extend their lead to 14. However, Virginia retaliated fiercely, launching a 17-3 run that tied the game 46-46, capped off by a corner three-pointer from Rohde as NC State struggled, hitting just one of their first 11 shots of the half.

McKneely then hit a pivotal three-pointer with 11:07 remaining, allowing Virginia to take their first lead since being down 13-11 earlier in the game, now ahead 51-50.

Looking ahead, Virginia will play against Louisville at home on Saturday, while NC State will be on the road facing Wake Forest on the same day.