CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Reece Beekman had 21 points, nine assists and six rebounds on Senior Night and the University of Virginia closed out the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season with a 72-57 win over Georgia Tech on Sunday. Concluded.
The Cavaliers (22-9, 13-7) earned the No. 3 seed and a double bye in the conference tournament. The Yellow Jackets (14-17, 7-13) are tied with Notre Dame for 12th place in the 14-team conference.
The first round begins on Tuesday when Georgia Tech takes on the Fighting Irish. Virginia will play either No. 6 seed Clemson on Thursday or, if the Tigers upset, the winner of the first-round game between No. 11 seed Boston College and No. 14 seed Miami.
Beekman made 8 of 10 shots from the floor and made three 3-pointers for Virginia. He is the Cavaliers' all-time leader in steals and has three more. Isaac McKneely sank four 3-pointers for 16 points, and Tayne Murray added 12 points and three assists off the bench. He made 5 of 10 shots with two 3-pointers.
Baye Ndongo was the only Georgia Tech player to reach double digits, scoring 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting. He had nine rebounds and five of the Yellow Jackets' 12 turnovers.
Beekman had 13 points and five assists in the first half, and Virginia led 38-24 at intermission. Kyle Sturdivant sank a 3-pointer to put Georgia Tech within 15 points with 9:11 left. Blake Buchanan answered with a basket, Beekman made 1 of 2 free throws and a 3-pointer, and the Cavaliers remained in the lead after eight previous lead changes. Ndongo scored 10 points in the first half for the Yellow Jackets.
Georgia Tech got within nine points early in the second half, but Murray sank a 3-pointer, Beekman followed with a dunk, and Virginia maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Virginia has been held to fewer than 50 points six times this season, the most since 1947-48 when they were held to eight points. With 14 minutes, 23 seconds left, the Cavaliers broke the 50-point mark on Jordan Miner's layup.
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