McKneeley scores 20, Ames adds 18 to help Virginia beat Georgia Tech 75-61

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Isaac McKneeley scored 20 points, Dai Dai Ames added 14 of his 18 in the second half and Virginia beat Georgia Tech 75-61 on Saturday.

Andrew Rohde scored 11 points with nine assists for Virginia (12-12, 5-8 ACC).

The Cavaliers have won 13 in a row against Georgia Tech (11-13, 5-8), dating to a 68-64 loss on Jan. 9, 2016, and 21 of their last 23. The Yellow Jackets are 1-12 all-time on Virginia’s home court, where they have lost 11 straight.

Blake Buchanan threw down a dunk to make it 25-all with 6:46 left in the first half, Jacob Kofie followed with a three-point play 42 seconds later and Virginia led the rest of the way.

McKneeley made a layup with 8:02 left in the game that pushed the lead into double figures for good and sparked a 12-4 run.

McKneeley scores 20, Ames adds 18 to help Virginia beat Georgia Tech 75-61 | iNFOnews.ca
Virginia’s Blake Buchanan, upper center, and Georgia Tech’s Duncan Powell, center, fight for the ball during an NCAA college basketball game between Georgia Tech and Viriginia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va. (Cal Cary/The Daily Progress via AP)

Naithan George hit five 3-pointers and led the Yellow Jackets with 20 points. Duncan Powell added 18 points and Baye Ndongo scored 15.

Georgia Tech was coming off back-to-back wins over then-No. 21 Louisville and Clemson (which finished with 182 points in the latest AP Top 25 Poll, two fewer than No. 25 Mississippi) in triple overtime.

Tony Bennett, at two-time AP national coach of the year who lead the Cavaliers to a 2019 national title, was honored at halftime. Bennett unexpectedly retired on Oct. 18.

Georgia Tech returns home to play host to Stanford on Wednesday. Virginia plays at Virginia Tech next Saturday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

McKneeley scores 20, Ames adds 18 to help Virginia beat Georgia Tech 75-61 | iNFOnews.ca
A banner honoring Tony Bennett, retired Virginia men’s basketball coach, is raised into the rafters during a ceremony honoring his career during halftime in an NCAA college basketball game between Georgia Tech and Virginia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va. (Cal Cary/The Daily Progress via AP)
McKneeley scores 20, Ames adds 18 to help Virginia beat Georgia Tech 75-61 | iNFOnews.ca
Tony Bennett, retired Virginia men’s basketball coach, holds a plaque presented to him during a ceremony honoring his career during halftime of an NCAA college basketball game between Georgia Tech and Virginia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va. (Cal Cary/The Daily Progress via AP)
McKneeley scores 20, Ames adds 18 to help Virginia beat Georgia Tech 75-61 | iNFOnews.ca
Tony Bennett, retired Virginia men’s basketball coach, speaks during a halftime ceremony honoring his career during an NCAA college basketball game between Georgia Tech and Virginia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va. (Cal Cary/The Daily Progress via AP)

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