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Thijs De Ridder’s 17 points leads No. 17 Virginia past Boston College 73-66

Thijs De Ridder's 17 points leads No. 17 Virginia past Boston College 73-66 | iNFOnews.ca
Virginia guard Dallin Hall, left, dribbles around Boston College guard Luka Toews, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

BOSTON (AP) — Thijs De Ridder scored 17 points, Malik Thomas had 14 and No. 17 Virginia held off Boston College 73-66 on Saturday.

Chance Mallory added 11 points for the Cavaliers (18-3, 7-2 Atlantic Coast Conference).

Donald Hand Jr., son of former Cavaliers’ star Donald Hand (1998-01), led the Eagles (9-12, 2-6) with 20 points. Fred Payne added 17 points for the Eagles.

Getting to the basket relatively easily most of the game, Virginia took its first lead of the game, 41-38, on Sam Lewis’ three-point play 4 1/2 minutes into the second half.

The Cavaliers pushed their advantage to seven a few minutes later on Thomas’ twisting layup when he was in a stretch of scoring eight of their 11 points.

BC rallied but the Cavaliers took the lead for good on White’s 3-pointer from the top of the key with just under 10 minutes to play that made it 55-52.

The Eagles kept it within a two-possession game until Ugonna Onyenson’s dunk made it 72-64 with a little under a minute left in the game.

Overcoming their biggest deficit en route to a victory in 20 years during a double-overtime thriller at Notre Dame on Tuesday, the Cavaliers found themselves behind for the final 18 minutes of the first half.

The Eagles, who shot 50% (14 of 28), led by five after 20 minutes.

Virginia, which came into the day leading the ACC in both rebounds and offensive boards per game, used that advantage to keep it close.

The Cavaliers outrebounded BC 39-33, but got 14 on the offensive end to the Eagles’ eight.

UP NEXT

Virginia: Host Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

Boston College: At No. 4 Duke on Tuesday.

___

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

Thijs De Ridder's 17 points leads No. 17 Virginia past Boston College 73-66 | iNFOnews.ca
Virginia guard Malik Thomas (1) drives to the hoop against Boston College guard Aidan Shaw (23) and guard Donald Hand Jr. (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Thijs De Ridder's 17 points leads No. 17 Virginia past Boston College 73-66 | iNFOnews.ca
Boston College guard Donald Hand Jr., left, keeps the ball in bounds against Virginia guard Dallin Hall (30) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Thijs De Ridder's 17 points leads No. 17 Virginia past Boston College 73-66 | iNFOnews.ca
Virginia guard Chance Mallory (2) scores during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Boston College, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

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Ken Powtak

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