No.2 Virginia falls to No.16 Louisville

Down a point with the clock running out, No. 16 Louisville had no choice but to trust Mangok Mathiang’s jump shot. And hope.

The sophomore center’s 15-footer with 2.7 seconds was true, giving  Louisville the lead and an unlikely hero in their 59-57 victory over No. 2 Virginia on Saturday night.

After Malcolm Brogdon hit his fourth 3 of the half to give Virginia a 57-56 lead with 13 second left, the Cardinals ran a play hoping to set up one of its two stars, guard Terry Rozier or forward Montrezi Harrell. But when  Rozier was double-teamed he found Mathiang open at the free throw line for the winner and his only points of the game.

”Mangok was the 64th option,” Louisville coach Rick Pitino quipped.

It was Mathiang’s second field goal since Jan. 31. Scoring less than three points a game and known more for his high energy than offensive prowess, Pitino said Mathiang has spent the past two months practicing that shot after teams have increasingly left him open.

”That shot was good from the moment it left his hand,” Pitino said. ”I’m really happy for him because he put in the work.”

Even Mathiang was surprised.

”I was just shocked that I made it,” Mathiang admitted. ”I was running, then Trez came hugged me and everybody was around me. This is a real big deal.”

A big deal indeed. Louisville (24-7, 12-6) snapped Virginia’s nine-game winning streak and tarnished its road record. The win clinched fourth place in the conference for the Cardinals, earning them a spot in the quarterfinals to start the ACC tournament.