REECE BEEKMAN

Jarace Walker scored 17 points and Houston used runs in each half and the nation's best scoring defense to beat the Cavaliers 69-61. The Cougars scored on three straight possessions after a steal and layup by Kihei Clark brought a sellout crowd clad in orange to its feet, exhorting Virginia to rely on its own defense to finish the comeback. Houston became the highest-ranked nonconference opponent ever to play Virginia in Charlottesville. Virginia scored the first nine points and led 15-7 before going cold. Virginia: The Cavaliers got guard Reece Beekman back after he suffered a hamstring injury in their previous game.

5 Houston used runs in each half and the nation's best scoring defense to beat No. Virginia (8-1), playing for the first time in 11 days, never got closer than six again, and each time the Cougars answered. Houston became the highest-ranked nonconference opponent ever to play Virginia in Charlottesville. Virginia scored the first nine points and led 15-7 before going cold. Virginia: The Cavaliers got guard Reece Beekman back after he suffered a hamstring injury in their previous game.

Jarace Walker scored 17 points and No. 5 Houston used runs in each half and the nation’s best scoring defense to beat No. 2 Virginia 69-61.

Virginia climbed 11 spots to No. 5 in this week's AP Top 25 following a difficult week.

LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Reece Beekman and No. 16 Virginia capped an emotional week by going on a late 13-point run to defeat No. The team canceled its game Monday against Northern Iowa, but chose to play in Las Vegas. Forward Kadin Shedrick said Friday that being in Las Vegas was therapeutic. Illini guard Terrence Shannon Jr. also scored nine points after getting 29 against UCLA in going 8 of 9 from 3-point range.

Reece Beekman and No. 16 Virginia capped an emotional week by going on a late 13-point run to defeat No. 19 Illinois 70-61 to win the Continental Tire Main Event.

Armaan Franklin scored a career-high 26 points, and No. 16 Virginia used a big second-half run to knock off No. 5 Baylor 86-79 in the team’s first game since three Cavaliers football players were killed in a campus shooting.

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The Atlantic Coast Conference has canceled its tournament semifinal game between No. 16 Virginia and Georgia Tech due to a positive COVID-19 test, quarantining and contact tracing within the Cavaliers program. The league called off its second tournament game in two days on Friday morning, less than 12 hours before the Yellow Jackets and Seminoles were set to play the first of two semifinal games. It's unclear exactly how this could impact Virginia going forward into the NCAA Tournament. The tournament protocols include requiring each member of a team's travel party to complete seven negative COVID-19 tests before leaving for Indianapolis.

That day turned out to be the end of the college basketball season. Hours later, Kansas announced its withdrawal from the Big 12 Tournament, leading to the cancellation of its semifinal matchup with No. The Jayhawks said in a statement they would continue preparing for the NCAA Tournament, which starts Thursday. Duke withdrew from the ACC Tournament and ended its season amid its own positive test before facing the 15th-ranked Seminoles in the quarterfinals. The tournament protocols include requiring each member of a team's travel party to complete seven negative COVID-19 tests before leaving for Indianapolis.

The Spartans are seeking their 23rd straight NCAA Tournament appearance. In the Mountain West, Colorado State and Utah State succeeded where Boise State failed. Those two teams advanced to the semifinals of that tournament and have a chance to keep padding their resumes at a time when several other bubble teams can't. GAME TO WATCHColorado State faces Utah State in a Mountain West semifinal. On Thursday, Colorado State was one of the last at-large teams projected to make the field at bracketmatrix.com, and Utah State was one of the first teams out.