#13 Ohio Bobcats upset #4 Virginia 62-58 in NCAA Tournament 1st round
Justin Holbrock
BLOOIMINGTON, Ind. (WCMH) — The No. 13 Ohio Bobcats shocked the No. 4 Virginia Cavaliers 62-58 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Assembly Hall on Saturday night giving OU its first tournament win since 2012.
The Bobcats couldn’t generate much offense against the Cavaliers who rank top 10 in fewest points allowed per game in the country, but OU was able to pull off the win thanks to the late play of junior Ben Vander Plas.
Vander Plas scored when it mattered most dropping 10 points in a four-minute stretch late in the second half to give OU a seven-point lead. They would not trail the rest of the game.
Vander Plas nailed a three with 7:44 left in the game to give OU its first lead since it was 3-0 in the opening minute of the game.
Vander Plas led all scorers with 17 points while sophomore and Olentangy Liberty grad Ben Roderick finished with 15 points.
Jason Preston nearly recorded a triple-double with 11 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.
OU entered the game with a top 20 offense nationally, but poor shot selection and solid defense from the Cavs kept the Bobcats from getting into a rhythm. OU relied on the play of Vander Plas and hit a few key free throws late to pull off the upset.
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Ben Vander Plas #5 of the Ohio Bobcats shoots against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Dwight Wilson III #4 of the Ohio Bobcats shoots against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Miles Brown #2 of the Ohio Bobcats reacts to winning the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Virginia Cavaliers at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: The Ohio Bobcats react to defeating the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: The Ohio Bobcats celebrate their win over the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Jason Preston #0 of the Ohio Bobcats reacts to winning the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Virginia Cavaliers at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Ben Vander Plas #5 and Colin Granger #32 of the Ohio Bobcats celebrate defeating the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Colin Granger #32 of the Ohio Bobcats celebrates defeating the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Colin Granger #32 of the Ohio Bobcats celebrates defeating the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Miles Brown #2 of the Ohio Bobcats celebrates defeating the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: John Tenerowicz #12 of the Ohio Bobcats celebrates defeating the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Ben Vander Plas #5 of the Ohio Bobcats shoots defended by Jay Huff #30 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Ben Roderick #3 of the Ohio Bobcats shoots defended by Jay Huff #30 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Jason Preston #0 of the Ohio Bobcats shoots guarded by Sam Hauser #10 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Jason Preston #0 of the Ohio Bobcats shoots defended by Reece Beekman #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Ben Vander Plas #5 of the Ohio Bobcats shoots in front of Sam Hauser #10 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Jason Preston #0 of the Ohio Bobcats reacts to winning the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Virginia Cavaliers at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Miles Brown #2 of the Ohio Bobcats reacts to winning the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Virginia Cavaliers at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Miles Brown #2 of the Ohio Bobcats reacts to winning the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Virginia Cavaliers at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Ben Roderick #3 of the Ohio Bobcats shoots against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 20: Lunden McDay #15 of the Ohio Bobcats looks to shoot defended by Jay Huff #30 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Ohio made 13 of its 14 free throws, including six free throws from freshman Mark Sears, sophomore Lunden McDay and Preston with less than a minute left in the game to keep OU up by two possessions.
Virginia struggled all game from behind the arc with eight three pointers on 31 attempts.
Ohio is just the third team since 2012 to beat a No. 4 seed. The other two teams were North Texas who beat Purdue on Friday and the 2012 Bobcats who beat No. 4 Michigan en route to the Sweet 16.
