Top 5 Highlights from UVA Basketball’s NCAA Tournament Triumph Over Wright State
Virginia advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with an 82-73 victory over Wright State. The third-seeded Cavaliers won in Philadelphia after trailing 43-38 at halftime. Virginia outscored the Raiders 44-30 in the second half to secure the result.
Jacari White provides the decisive spark
Jacari White delivered a bench explosion that changed the game. He scored 26 points in 24 minutes on 10-of-12 shooting and 6-of-8 from three.
White’s scoring was a season-best and a primary reason the Cavaliers pulled away late. Virginia’s bench outscored Wright State’s 33-14.
Size and rebounding tilted the matchup
Virginia’s front line altered Wright State’s usual game plan. The Cavaliers outrebounded the Raiders 39-24.
Kellen Pickett, a key interior player for Wright State, finished with two points on 0-for-3 shooting. Virginia recorded five blocks.
Wright State’s perimeter burst kept the game tense
The Raiders responded by shooting well from distance. Wright State made 13 of 31 three-point attempts, a 42 percent clip.
Michael Imariagbe produced 19 points and 10 rebounds while hitting 5-of-9 from three. He had made only one three all season prior to this game.
Solomon Callaghan was 4-for-6 from deep, and TJ Burch added two made triples.
Offense, efficiency, and tournament context
Virginia shot efficiently in the win. The Cavaliers finished 52 percent from the field, 50 percent from three, and 13-for-14 at the free-throw line.
They committed 14 turnovers but still moved on. Ryan Odom guided the program into the second round in his first season after taking over for Tony Bennett.
This was Virginia’s first NCAA Tournament victory since the 2019 national title run. The Cavaliers had been eliminated by Ohio in 2021, Furman in 2023, and Colorado State in the 2024 First Four.
Top 5 highlights
- Jacari White’s 26 points on 10-for-12 shooting off the bench.
- Bench advantage: Virginia 33, Wright State 14.
- Rebounding edge: Cavaliers 39, Raiders 24.
- Michael Imariagbe’s 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 5-of-9 from three.
- Second-half run: Virginia outscored Wright State 44-30 to close the game.
This report was prepared for Filmogaz.com. The summary captures the key moments and statistics from Virginia’s NCAA Tournament win over Wright State.
