Virginia loses 62-58 to Preston, Ohio, ending title defense
AP
Mar 21, 2021
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) Virginia Cavaliers spent two years on top of the college basketball world. After one night in Indiana, it was all over for the Cavaliers.
Coming out of quarantine after a positive COVID-19 test, Virginia's unusual title defense was stopped by another upset loss in the NCAA Tournament, falling 62-58 to Jason Preston and Ohio Bobcats on Saturday.
''Our guys were again hopeful we'd get this opportunity,'' Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett said. ''The NCAA allowed us to come in in a unique way. I'm thankful for it, but it just stings right now to not advance in this tournament.''
No. 4 seed Virginia (18-7) won the ACC regular-season title and then had to withdraw from the conference tournament because of its COVID-19 issues. The Cavaliers spent seven days in quarantine, using virtual meetings to prepare for the matchup with Ohio.
Bennett and company just arrived on Friday, and now they are heading out once again.
Some familiar problems showed up again for the Cavaliers, who struggled to score during a key stretch in the second half and shot 35% from the field for the game. Virginia famously lost to No. 16 seed UMBC in the first round in 2018, but it used the setback as motivation in its run to the championship in 2019.
After last year's NCAA Tournament was canceled because of the pandemic, the Cavaliers (18-7) became the first defending champion to lose in the first round since UConn in 2012.
Preston and Ben Vander Plas, the two stars of Ohio's surprising Mid-American Conference Tournament run, were back at it.
Vander Plas scored 10 of his game-high 17 points during an 18-4 second-half run that erased a 38-31 deficit and gave the Bobcats a 49-42 lead. Ohio (17-7) never trailed again.
When it was over, Vander Plas raced over to give Bennett a hug. Vander Plas' father, Dean, played college ball with Bennett.
Preston made big play after big play, finishing with 11 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Lunden McDay sealed the victory at the free-throw line in the closing seconds..
Ohio (17-7) has now won its last three NCAA first-round games - beating Georgetown in 2010 and Michigan in 2012. And even though the seats inside were mostly empty at Assembly Hall, the Bobcats reveled in the celebration on the court - and the one they heard about on their home campus.
''Obviously, it's a huge win, being the 13 seed coming out and getting a win in the NCAA Tournament is big.'' Vander Plas said. ''I'm just really thankful we're able to get a win (the fans).''
Next up is for the Bobcats is No. 5 seed Creighton on Monday.
Sam Hauser had 15 points and nine rebounds for Virginia, which won the ACC regular-season title before the COVID-19 test ended their hopes of winning the tourney crown.
''The program was quarantined for seven days after the positive test, they had seven negative tests and came here and tested negatively and haven't tested positive since then,'' Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart said on the telecast. Barnhart is the chairman of the NCAA's selection committee.
While Virginia controlled most of the first half and looked as if it might pull away when it opened a 38-31 lead, Ohio stormed back. Mark Sears made a layup and Vander Plas connected on two long 3-pointers to give the Bobcats a 45-40 advantage with 6:58 left.
Ben Roderick scored 15 points for Ohio. Trey Murphy III had 12 points for the Cavs.
''I know our guys are feeling it right now,'' Bennett said. ''We had some chances. I don't know if we got tired down the stretch or felt a little bit of the pressure, but we had some good looks and just had a poor shooting day, a very poor shooting day from 3-point range with some quality shots, but they did a good job defensively.''
BIG PICTURE
Ohio: The Bobcats weren't at their best but they outplayed Virginia for most of the second half and made just enough plays down the stretch. They're just one win away from making their second Sweet 16 in a decade.
Virginia: It was a rough week for the Cavs, who weren't even sure whether they would play until Friday. Perhaps the quarantine affected their conditioning or sharpness, but they didn't finish either half well.
STRANGE SIMILARITY
Thirty years ago, Vander Plas' father, Dean, and Bennett were teammates on Green Bay's NCAA Tournament team that lost to Michigan State 60-58. Dean Vander Plas was Green Bay's top scorer that night with 17 points.
''Wow, that's unbelievable. That's crazy to hear,'' Ben Vander Plas said. ''That's really cool to score the same amount as my pops in the first round, that's really crazy.''
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1st Half
OHIO
Bobcats
27
UVA
Cavaliers
28
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Dwight Wilson III vs. Jay Huff (Bobcats gains possession)
19:48
Jay Huff blocks Dwight Wilson III's two point layup
19:46
Jay Huff defensive rebound
19:28
Jump ball. Jay Huff vs. Dwight Wilson III (Cavaliers gains possession)
19:28
Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot
19:26
Jason Preston defensive rebound
19:17
+3
Ben Roderick makes three point jump shot (Jason Preston assists)
3-0
18:58
+3
Trey Murphy III makes three point jump shot (Reece Beekman assists)
3-3
18:24
Ben Roderick misses three point jump shot
18:22
Dwight Wilson III offensive rebound
18:20
Bobcats turnover (shot clock violation)
17:59
Sam Hauser misses two point jump shot
17:57
Jason Preston defensive rebound
17:42
Jay Huff blocks Dwight Wilson III's two point layup
17:40
Bobcats offensive rebound
17:39
Ben Roderick misses three point jump shot
17:37
Sam Hauser defensive rebound
17:23
Jay Huff misses three point jump shot
17:21
Reece Beekman offensive rebound
17:07
+3
Jay Huff makes three point jump shot (Sam Hauser assists)
3-6
16:42
Ben Roderick turnover (bad pass)
16:17
Trey Murphy III misses three point jump shot
16:15
Dwight Wilson III defensive rebound
16:05
Ben Vander Plas misses three point jump shot
16:03
Kihei Clark defensive rebound
15:51
+3
Kihei Clark makes three point jump shot
3-9
15:31
+2
Lunden McDay makes two point layup (Jason Preston assists)
5-9
15:12
Jay Huff misses three point jump shot
15:10
Jason Preston defensive rebound
15:00
Lunden McDay misses three point jump shot
14:58
Jay Huff defensive rebound
14:32
Dwight Wilson III blocks Trey Murphy III's two point layup
14:30
Dwight Wilson III defensive rebound
14:08
Jason Preston turnover (bad pass) (Jay Huff steals)
13:56
Jay Huff misses three point jump shot
13:54
Jason Preston defensive rebound
13:48
Ben Vander Plas misses three point jump shot
13:46
Jay Huff defensive rebound
13:26
Ben Vander Plas shooting foul (Sam Hauser draws the foul)
13:26
TV timeout
13:26
+1
Sam Hauser makes regular free throw 1 of 2
5-10
13:26
+1
Sam Hauser makes regular free throw 2 of 2
5-11
13:10
Ben Vander Plas turnover (lost ball) (Sam Hauser steals)
12:47
Francisco Caffaro turnover (3-second violation)
12:40
+3
Jason Preston makes three point jump shot (Ben Vander Plas assists)
8-11
12:23
Tomas Woldetensae misses two point jump shot
12:21
Mark Sears defensive rebound
12:01
+2
Jason Preston makes two point turnaround jump shot
10-11
11:36
Colin Granger shooting foul (Kihei Clark draws the foul)
11:32
TV timeout
11:32
Kihei Clark misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:32
+1
Kihei Clark makes regular free throw 2 of 2
10-12
11:08
+2
Ben Vander Plas makes two point turnaround jump shot
12-12
10:51
Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot
10:49
Trey Murphy III offensive rebound
10:42
Trey Murphy III misses three point jump shot
10:40
Ben Vander Plas defensive rebound
10:34
Ben Roderick misses three point jump shot
10:32
Sam Hauser defensive rebound
10:21
+2
Reece Beekman makes two point driving layup
12-14
9:58
+2
Ben Vander Plas makes two point layup
14-14
9:39
Tomas Woldetensae misses three point jump shot
9:37
Bobcats defensive rebound
9:25
Ben Vander Plas misses three point jump shot
9:23
Lunden McDay offensive rebound
9:15
Ben Vander Plas misses three point jump shot
9:13
Trey Murphy III defensive rebound
8:53
+2
Sam Hauser makes two point floating jump shot
14-16
8:17
Jay Huff shooting foul (Dwight Wilson III draws the foul)
8:17
+1
Dwight Wilson III makes regular free throw 1 of 2
15-16
8:17
+1
Dwight Wilson III makes regular free throw 2 of 2
16-16
8:04
Kihei Clark misses two point layup
8:02
Dwight Wilson III defensive rebound
7:43
Jason Preston misses three point jump shot
7:41
Sam Hauser defensive rebound
7:26
Ben Vander Plas blocks Casey Morsell's two point layup
7:24
Jason Preston defensive rebound
7:17
Jason Preston turnover (bad pass)
7:17
TV timeout
7:07
Colin Granger personal foul
7:02
Kihei Clark misses three point jump shot
7:00
Mark Sears defensive rebound
6:49
Lunden McDay misses three point jump shot
6:47
Jay Huff defensive rebound
6:24
Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot
6:22
Mark Sears defensive rebound
6:11
Lunden McDay misses two point jump shot
6:09
Mark Sears offensive rebound
6:09
Jump ball. Mark Sears vs. Jay Huff (Bobcats gains possession)
5:52
Reece Beekman blocks Jason Preston's two point jump shot
5:50
Casey Morsell defensive rebound
5:41
+2
Casey Morsell makes two point jump shot (Reece Beekman assists)
16-18
5:13
Jay Huff shooting foul (Dwight Wilson III draws the foul)
5:13
Dwight Wilson III misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:13
+1
Dwight Wilson III makes regular free throw 2 of 2
17-18
4:47
+3
Casey Morsell makes three point jump shot
17-21
4:22
Ben Roderick misses three point jump shot
4:20
Francisco Caffaro defensive rebound
3:57
+3
Trey Murphy III makes three point jump shot (Kihei Clark assists)
17-24
3:53
Bobcats 30 second timeout
3:53
TV timeout
3:41
+2
Ben Roderick makes two point layup (Jason Preston assists)
19-24
3:17
Kihei Clark misses two point jump shot
3:15
Bobcats defensive rebound
3:15
Francisco Caffaro personal foul
3:15
TV timeout
2:58
Sam Hauser personal foul (Ben Vander Plas draws the foul)
2:55
Reece Beekman blocks Lunden McDay's two point layup
2:53
Ben Vander Plas offensive rebound
2:42
+2
Lunden McDay makes two point jump shot (Ben Vander Plas assists)
21-24
2:19
+2
Sam Hauser makes two point jump shot
21-26
1:53
Dwight Wilson III misses two point floating jump shot
1:51
Sam Hauser defensive rebound
1:41
Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot
1:39
Ben Roderick defensive rebound
1:27
+3
Ben Roderick makes three point jump shot (Ben Vander Plas assists)
24-26
0:59
+2
Kihei Clark makes two point reverse layup
24-28
0:41
Ben Vander Plas misses two point jump shot
0:39
Sam Hauser defensive rebound
0:24
Kihei Clark misses three point jump shot
0:22
Jason Preston defensive rebound
0:04
+3
Ben Vander Plas makes three point jump shot (Jason Preston assists)
27-28
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
OHIO
Bobcats
35
UVA
Cavaliers
30
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:40
Jay Huff misses two point jump shot
19:38
Jason Preston defensive rebound
19:24
Ben Vander Plas offensive foul
19:24
Ben Vander Plas turnover
19:08
+3
Sam Hauser makes three point jump shot (Jay Huff assists)
27-31
18:42
+2
Dwight Wilson III makes two point layup
29-31
18:23
Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot
18:21
Dwight Wilson III defensive rebound
18:01
Jason Preston turnover (bad pass) (Trey Murphy III steals)
17:46
Ben Roderick shooting foul (Kihei Clark draws the foul)
17:46
+1
Kihei Clark makes regular free throw 1 of 2
29-32
17:46
Kihei Clark misses regular free throw 2 of 2
17:46
Ben Roderick defensive rebound
17:32
Dwight Wilson III turnover (bad pass) (Trey Murphy III steals)
17:19
Trey Murphy III misses three point jump shot
17:17
Jason Preston defensive rebound
16:58
Ben Roderick misses three point jump shot
16:56
Lunden McDay offensive rebound
16:55
Jay Huff shooting foul (Lunden McDay draws the foul)
16:55
+1
Lunden McDay makes regular free throw 1 of 2
30-32
16:55
+1
Lunden McDay makes regular free throw 2 of 2
31-32
16:34
+2
Sam Hauser makes two point turnaround jump shot
31-34
16:13
Ben Roderick turnover (out of bounds)
15:53
+2
Casey Morsell makes two point driving layup
31-36
15:22
Lunden McDay misses two point layup
15:20
Trey Murphy III defensive rebound
14:53
Sam Hauser misses two point jump shot
14:51
Jason Preston defensive rebound
14:40
Casey Morsell blocks Lunden McDay's two point layup
14:38
Sam Hauser defensive rebound
14:33
+2
Kihei Clark makes two point layup (Sam Hauser assists)
31-38
14:33
Bobcats 30 second timeout
14:33
TV timeout
14:16
Ben Roderick misses two point jump shot
14:14
Kihei Clark defensive rebound
13:58
Casey Morsell misses three point jump shot
13:56
Jason Preston defensive rebound
13:36
Lunden McDay misses three point jump shot
13:34
Sam Hauser defensive rebound
13:20
Trey Murphy III offensive foul
13:20
Trey Murphy III turnover
13:20
TV timeout
13:07
+2
Jason Preston makes two point driving layup
33-38
12:42
Kihei Clark misses three point jump shot
12:40
Mark Sears defensive rebound
12:12
Ben Vander Plas misses two point jump shot
12:10
Casey Morsell defensive rebound
11:54
Mark Sears personal foul
11:54
TV timeout
11:38
Kihei Clark misses two point jump shot
11:36
Jason Preston defensive rebound
11:16
Trey Murphy III shooting foul (Ben Roderick draws the foul)
11:16
+1
Ben Roderick makes regular free throw 1 of 2
34-38
11:16
+1
Ben Roderick makes regular free throw 2 of 2
35-38
10:55
Reece Beekman misses three point jump shot
10:53
Jason Preston defensive rebound
10:43
+2
Jason Preston makes two point driving layup
37-38
10:24
Trey Murphy III misses three point jump shot
10:22
Casey Morsell offensive rebound
10:12
Lunden McDay shooting foul (Sam Hauser draws the foul)
10:12
+1
Sam Hauser makes regular free throw 1 of 2
37-39
10:12
+1
Sam Hauser makes regular free throw 2 of 2
37-40
9:44
Ben Vander Plas misses three point jump shot
9:42
Reece Beekman defensive rebound
9:29
Reece Beekman misses two point layup
9:27
Ben Vander Plas defensive rebound
9:22
Trey Murphy III personal foul (Miles Brown draws the foul)
9:07
Jason Preston misses three point jump shot
9:05
Sam Hauser defensive rebound
8:42
Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot
8:40
Mark Sears defensive rebound
8:15
+2
Mark Sears makes two point layup
39-40
7:54
Sam Hauser misses two point jump shot
7:52
Jason Preston defensive rebound
7:44
+3
Ben Vander Plas makes three point jump shot (Jason Preston assists)