Reece Beekman had 11 points and 11 assists, and Virginia took a step toward an NCAA Tournament berth — and to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament — with a 66-60 overtime victory over Boston College on Thursday night.
ACC Boston Virginia Basketball Virginia players celebrating their overtime win against Boston College in an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Washington. Virginia won 66-60 to advance to the next round. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
ACC Boston Virginia Basketball Virginia forward Jordan Minor (22) reacting as he places the decal on the bracket board after defeating Boston College in overtime in an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Washington. Virginia won 66-60. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
ACC Boston Virginia Basketball Virginia players Reece Beekman (2), Dante Harris (1) and Ryan Dunn (13) celebrating their overtime win against Boston College in an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Washington. Virginia won 66-60 to advance to the next round. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
ACC Boston Virginia Basketball Boston College forward Quinten Post (12) tries to block a shot by Virginia guard Ryan Dunn (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
ACC Boston Virginia Basketball Boston College forward Quinten Post (12) goes up against forward Jordan Minor (22) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
ACC Boston Virginia Basketball Boston College forward Devin McGlockton (21) blocks a shot by Virginia guard Ryan Dunn (13) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
ACC Boston Virginia Basketball Virginia guard Reece Beekman (2) shoots over Boston College forward Quinten Post (12) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
ACC Boston Virginia Basketball Boston College guard Mason Madsen (45) makes a shot against Virginia forward Jacob Groves (34) to tie and sends the game into overtime in an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
ACC Boston Virginia Basketball Boston College guard Donald Hand Jr. (13) and guard Jaeden Zackery (3) embrace after loosing to Virginia in overtime in an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Washington. Virginia won 66-60 to advance to the next round. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
ACC Boston Virginia Basketball Virginia guard Reece Beekman (2) reacts to making a three-point basket in overtime against Boston College in an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Reece Beekman had 11 points and 11 assists, and Virginia took a step toward an NCAA Tournament berth — and to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament — with a 66-60 overtime victory over Boston College on Thursday night.
The Cavaliers (23-9) were nearly done in by 8-of-18 free throw shooting, but their stellar defense was enough to carry them through the final minutes. Boston College went over five minutes without scoring before Mason Madsen of the Eagles made a jumper at the buzzer to force overtime.
Then Virginia allowed only one basket in the extra session.
Quinten Post had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the 11th-seeded Eagles (19-15), who were trying to win for the third time in three days. Post went 9 of 20 from the field, and Virginia’s Jordan Minor did a terrific job defensively toward the end.
Virginia faces 10th-seeded N.C. State on Friday after the Wolfpack beat second-seeded Duke on Thursday.
The Cavaliers are on the NCAA Tournament bubble, and a loss to this Boston College team would have been a bad final impression to leave. The game became a battle of attrition late. After Post’s layup gave Boston College a 55-53 lead, the Eagles missed their next eight shots.
Virginia wasn’t much better, finally going ahead 57-55 when Jacob Groves made two free throws with 29 seconds to play. Then Madsen tied it.
Boston College didn’t score again until the final minute of overtime. By then, Isaac McKneely and Beekman had made 3s to put the Cavaliers up by six.
