CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — In a memorable matchup, Notre Dame secured a significant victory against Virginia on Saturday, winning 74-59, marking their first-ever road triumph over the Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena.

Markus Burton was a standout performer for the Fighting Irish, scoring 21 points thanks to hitting half of his field goal attempts and making four shots from beyond the arc. This win improves Notre Dame’s record to 9-10, with a 3-5 showing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Prior to this game, Notre Dame had never won in Charlottesville, holding an unfortunate record of 0-9 against the Cavaliers in that venue. Burton’s consistent scoring, including four consecutive games with 20 or more points, places him on the cusp of making history; if he achieves this feat once more, he will be the first Fighting Irish player to hit that mark in five straight games since Ben Hansbrough achieved it in 2011.
Other contributions came from Tae Davis, who added 16 points alongside six rebounds and five assists, while Braeden Shrewsberry pitched in with 13 points.
For Virginia, Jacob Cofie was the top scorer with 17 points and secured six rebounds, but the Cavaliers have struggled recently, losing six of their last seven matchups. Isaac McKneely contributed 14 points, all scored during the first half.
Burton set the tone for the game early, scoring 15 points by halftime and helping Notre Dame establish a 39-27 lead as they dominated play. With a solid start, Julian Roper II capped off a 14-3 run early in the first half with a well-placed 3-pointer. McKneely was instrumental for Virginia during the first half, hitting four 3-pointers and providing three assists, contributing to nearly all of the Cavaliers’ scoring before halftime.
The second half saw Notre Dame maintain its momentum as Shrewsberry, Matt Allocco, and Kebba Njie each showcased their shooting skills with 3-pointers within the opening minutes, extending the lead to 48-31. The Fighting Irish reached their largest lead of the match at 63-36 following a layup from Burton with just over eight minutes remaining.
Historically, Virginia continues to hold the upper hand in the series, leading 18-5. Looking ahead, Notre Dame will host Georgia Tech on Tuesday, while Virginia will travel to take on Miami on Wednesday.