No. 6 Virginia overcame a sluggish start and a hostile crowd to secure an 87-83 victory against Maryland on Friday night.
The win kept the Cavaliers undefeated at 5-0 on the season, according to Yahoo Sports.
Maryland entered the break with a 47-36 lead after a first half defined by Virginia turnovers and frequent trips to the charity stripe for the Terrapins.
The Cavaliers struggled early, committing eight turnovers and sending Maryland to the free-throw line 24 times before halftime, per the report from Yahoo Sports.
Virginia flipped the momentum in the second half, shooting 20-of-26 from the field to outscore the hosts 51-36 after the intermission.
Sam Lewis served as the engine for the comeback, recording a career-high 28 points on 12-of-16 shooting.
Lewis remained aggressive throughout the contest, “making contested finish after contested finish” as noted by the Yahoo Sports account.
Despite the offensive success, Virginia struggled with ball security, committing 17 turnovers and allowing 24 points off those errors.
The team also dealt with significant foul trouble, as Maryland finished the game 31-of-39 from the free-throw line.
Virginia eventually took the lead for good on a step-back three-pointer from Chance Mallory.
The Cavaliers’ defense tightened significantly in the closing minutes, limiting Maryland to 38 percent shooting in the second half.
Late defensive stops from Johann Grünloh and Thijs De Ridder helped seal the outcome as the crowd at the Xfinity Center began to exit.
The victory marks the 10th win for Virginia in the last 11 meetings between the two programs.
Head coach Ryan Odom leaned heavily on his core rotation during the final minutes, with four players logging at least 32 minutes of action.
This performance provided a critical test for the team, demonstrating the resilience needed for future high-stakes matchups.
The Cavaliers now look to carry this momentum forward as they continue their early-season schedule.