No Batman, Just a Bunch of Robins: Virginia’s Grit Carries the Day in Nashville

Virginia Cavaliers men’s basketball didn’t need a hero in Nashville. They needed toughness, patience, and just enough shot-making to steady themselves when the game threatened to slip away early. They got all of it in a 70–66 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball, a result that carried real weight for a February neutral-site game. Against a borderline NCAA Tournament team from the Big Ten and one of the sport’s bigger brands, Virginia once again showed the defining trait of this roster is its refusal to panic. The Cavaliers looked uncomfortable early, but they never lost their collective focus.

The night opened about as poorly as possible. Ohio State jumped out to an early double-digit lead while Virginia’s offense sputtered and searched for rhythm. Shots came up short, timing looked off, and the Buckeyes controlled the pace. In past seasons, that type of start on a neutral floor could have turned into a long night. This group absorbed the early damage, slowed the game down, and trusted the system rather than searching for a quick fix.

There was no takeover performance from Tjis De Ridder, who finished with just six points and never quite found a groove. No one tried to make up for it by forcing the issue. Malik Thomas led the way with 13 points, Sam Lewis added 12, and Chance Mallory chipped in another 12, each scoring within the flow of the offense. The box score read like a team effort because that is exactly what it was. The Cavaliers did not have a star turn, but they had enough good decisions across the lineup to grind out a win.

The biggest difference came at the free-throw line. Virginia attempted 32 free throws to Ohio State’s 14, a gap that reflected the Cavaliers’ aggression in the second half. They attacked the paint, cut with purpose, and made the Buckeyes defend without fouling. Those trips to the line steadied the offense and kept the scoreboard moving even when shots were not falling.

Inside, Ugo Onyenso delivered one of the night’s most important performances with eight points, ten rebounds, and four blocks. His presence around the rim forced Ohio State to adjust every drive and altered several possessions that never show up in the box score. He controlled the glass, protected the paint, and gave Virginia a defensive backbone during the most important stretches. Performances like that often swing close games, even if they never become highlight material.

This team may not have a classic late-game superstar, the kind who takes over possessions by himself. What it may have instead is a roster full of reliable options, players comfortable in their roles and capable of delivering in the right moment. Virginia’s win over a Big Ten name on a neutral floor was not built on one brilliant performance. It was built on resilience, balance, and the quiet accumulation of winning plays that tend to matter most when March arrives. As this group keeps stacking nights like this, the identity is becoming clear: no capes, no drama, just tough, connected basketball that travels anywhere.

Go Hoos.