In front of the loudest, most-engaged John Paul Jones Arena crowd of the campaign, Virginia rang in the new year with a bang and its best performance of the season yet. Isaac McKneely had 14 points and made three second-half 3s, fueling a 70-67 come-from-behind win for the Cavaliers over N.C.
State on Tuesday — New Year’s Eve Day — to earn their first ACC victory this season. UVa trailed by as many as 14 in the second half before erasing the deficit with McKneely, forward Elijah Saunders and guard Andrew Rohde leading the way. Saunders, who had a game-best 22 points, scored UVa’s first seven of the second half to put the Hoos (8-5, 1-1 ACC) within striking distance before McKneely and Rohde heated up from long range to surge past the Wolfpack (8-5, 1-1 ACC).
“It’s a great feeling,” Rohde said. “Especially, after our break. The coaches have talked about how it’s a new season now with conference play, so we kind of attacked it with a different mindset.
” Virginia's bench celebrates Andrew Rohde making a three-pointer in the University of Virginia vs. North Carolina State Men's basketball game at JPJ on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024.
Said UVa interim coach Ron Sanchez: “Today, we pushed the right buttons. We had the right lineups. We put the right guys on the floor.
” Here are three takeaways from the dramatic victory. After Saunders narrowed N.C.
State’s advantage from 43-29 to 43-36, McKneely, Rohde and fellow veteran guard Taine Murray propelled the Cavaliers.
