No. 1 seed Virginia outlasts Oregon

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Ty Jerome scored 13 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:34 remaining, and No. 1 seed Virginia reached its second regional final in four years with a 53-49 victory over No. 12 Oregon on Thursday night in the NCAA Tournament.

The Cavaliers (32-3) shot 36 percent and matched a season low in scoring, but got baskets when needed to outlast the Ducks (25-13). Jerome’s 3 was the biggest as he took Kehei Clark’s pass and converted from deep to make it 48-45.

Virginia clamped down from there holding Oregon scoreless for more than five minutes after the Ducks went ahead, 45-42, on Louis King’s 3 with 5:43 left.

Clark tied it with a 3 with 5:21 left and De’Andre Hunter got free for a layup for 24 seconds left for a five-point edge that was enough to stop Oregon’s 10-game winning streak.

Clark finished with 12 points, six assists and four rebounds. Mamadi Diakite grabbed 11 rebounds as Virginia edged Oregon 34-31 on the glass.

King’s 16 points led Oregon, which shot 38 percent. The Ducks had hoped to reach their third Elite Eight in four years.

After beating opponents by an average of 18 points during their run, the Ducks were slowed down and then shut down by Virginia. They made just 9 of 25 from long range and were caught off guard defensively several times as Virginia found its post men inside and topped the Duck 18-14 in the paint.

The Cavaliers continued their mastery at the KFC Yum! Center, winning their fifth consecutive visit. This one wasn’t pretty, but it was effective.