CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — In a decisive matchup, Isaac McKneeley led the Virginia Cavaliers to a 75-61 victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday, contributing a strong 20 points. Dai Dai Ames also made a significant impact, scoring 14 of his 18 points in the second half. This win improved Virginia’s record to 12-12 overall and 5-8 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Andrew Rohde made his mark on the game as well, notching 11 points and dishing out nine assists. Virginia has demonstrated dominance against Georgia Tech, extending their winning streak to 13 games against them—last suffering a defeat back on January 9, 2016. Additionally, Virginia has now secured victories in 21 of their last 23 encounters with the Yellow Jackets. Historically, Georgia Tech has struggled at Virginia’s home venue, recording just one win in 12 attempts, with their current losing streak now standing at 11 games.

The game saw Blake Buchanan execute a powerful dunk to even the score at 25 with 6:46 remaining in the first half. Shortly after, Jacob Kofie converted a three-point play, allowing Virginia to take control of the game from that point onward. McKneeley’s layup at the 8:02 mark of the second half widened the margin to a double-digit lead, initiating a pivotal 12-4 run for the Cavaliers.

Naithan George was the standout for Georgia Tech, hitting five three-pointers and ending the game with 20 points. Teammates Duncan Powell added 18 points, while Baye Ndongo contributed 15. Georgia Tech was looking to capitalize on their momentum after a couple of impressive wins against then-No. 21 Louisville and Clemson, which concluded with a thrilling triple-overtime finish showcasing over 180 combined points in the latest AP Top 25 Poll.

Adding to the day’s significance, Tony Bennett, a two-time national coach of the year and leader of the Cavaliers to their 2019 National Championship, received accolades during halftime. Bennett unexpectedly announced his retirement earlier in October.

Looking ahead, Georgia Tech will return to their home court to face Stanford on Wednesday, while Virginia is scheduled to compete against Virginia Tech next Saturday.