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Malik Thomas’ 23 points and Thijs De Ridder’s 17 lead No. 16 Virginia past SMU 72-68

Malik Thomas' 23 points and Thijs De Ridder's 17 lead No. 16 Virginia past SMU 72-68 | iNFOnews.ca
Virginia guard Malik Thomas (1) reacts after scoring a 3-pointer during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against SMU Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

DALLAS (AP) — Malik Thomas had a game-high 23 points and a career-best 11 rebounds and Thijs De Ridder added 17 points, including seven of No. 16 Virginia’s eight points in the final 2 1/2 minutes, as the Cavaliers hung on to beat SMU 72-68 in an Atlantic Coast Conference game on Saturday.

Virginia (16-2, 5-1 ACC) has won five consecutive games. SMU (13-5, 2-3 ACC) lost for the first time in 12 games at Moody Coliseum this season.

De Ridder’s two free throws with 1:07 left gave Virginia a 70-68 lead. After the Cavs’ Dallin Hall missed a 3-pointer late in the shot clock with 14 seconds left, De Ridder grabbed the rebound and was fouled. De Ridder hit two more foul shots, putting Virginia ahead 72-68.

SMU’s Boopie Miller missed a right-corner 3-pointer in the closing seconds, and De Ridder grabbed the rebound.

Jarin Pierre Jr. scored 16 points to lead the Mustangs. B.J. Edwards added 13 and Miller, the team’s leading scorer averaging 20.8 per game, scored a season-low 12.

Thomas matched a season high hitting six 3-pointers. Virginia, averaging a program-high 28.3 treys attempted per game, hit 12 of 31.

Virginia conversely shot a season-low 12 free throws, sinking 10.

SMU led by as many as seven points during the opening 13 minutes before the Cavaliers went on a 13-2 run over almost four minutes to go ahead 35-28, SMU shooting 1 for 10 with two turnovers during the span. Virginia led 35-28 at halftime.

Up next

Virginia will host No. 14 North Carolina next Saturday.

SMU will visit Wake Forest 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

Malik Thomas' 23 points and Thijs De Ridder's 17 lead No. 16 Virginia past SMU 72-68 | iNFOnews.ca
SMU guard Boopie Miller (2) passes against Virginia guard Dallin Hall (30) and forward Thijs de Ridder (28) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Malik Thomas' 23 points and Thijs De Ridder's 17 lead No. 16 Virginia past SMU 72-68 | iNFOnews.ca
Virginia guard Jacari White (6) grabs the ball against SMU center Jaden Toombs (10) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Malik Thomas' 23 points and Thijs De Ridder's 17 lead No. 16 Virginia past SMU 72-68 | iNFOnews.ca
SMU guard Jaron Pierre Jr. (5) scores against Virginia center Ugonna Onyenso (33) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Malik Thomas' 23 points and Thijs De Ridder's 17 lead No. 16 Virginia past SMU 72-68 | iNFOnews.ca
Virginia guard Chance Mallory (2) and SMU guard Jaron Pierre Jr. (5) reach for the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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