Wahoos stun Clemson

CHARLOTTESVILLE — As the final seconds of the second half ticked off, Clemson shot once, twice and then a third time, desperately trying to break a 74-74 tie.

Watching helplessly, University of Virginia coach Dave Leitao remembered late-game sequences that had gone well for his team. Leitao also flashed back to unhappy endings for the Cavaliers, such as Deron Washington’s last-second basket in Virginia Tech’s win at John Paul Jones Arena last season.

There was no such heartbreak for UVa on Sunday. The Tigers’ late shots refused to fall, and the teams went to overtime. In the extra period, Virginia took the lead for good with 3:20 remaining on redshirt freshman Sammy Zeglinski’s layup and held on to shock No. 12 Clemson 85-81 before a joyous crowd of 10,971 at the JPJ.

“It feels good to get this monkey off our back,” Zeglinski said after UVa (2-8, 8-13) ended an eight-game losing streak that began Jan. 10 in Blacksburg.

After the final horn sounded, Leitao took the microphone and thanked fans for sticking with the team. The crowd was perhaps the loudest of the season at the JPJ — in part because of the Cavaliers’ inspired play, but also because former great Sean Singletary was in attendance.

Singletary’s number (44) was retired during a halftime ceremony, and he popped into the Cavaliers’ locker room after the game to offer his congratulations.

“I think Sean’s presence here helped energize the building,” Leitao said.

The victory, the Wahoos’ first over a ranked opponent since Nov. 17, 2007, helped them avoid their first nine-game losing streak since the 1961-62 season. They’ll try Wednesday night, against visiting Virginia Tech, to avenge the loss they suffered last month at Cassell Coliseum.

“This win is going to help us a lot,” said freshman Sylven Landesberg, who’d refused to cut his hair during Virginia’s skid. “We needed just one win to push us ahead, and this is it.”

Landesberg played all 45 minutes against Clemson (6-4, 20-4). “A big-money player,” Leitao called him, and the ball stayed in Landesberg’s hands late in the game.

In regulation, Landesberg got the final basket, pulling UVa even with 13.4 seconds to play. In overtime, he scored six points. He finished with 23 points, four rebounds, three assists and a career-high three steals.

Landesberg’s feats no longer surprise his teammates.

“People don’t see what I see every day from him in practice,” said sophomore forward Mike Scott, who also was spectacular Sunday, totaling 18 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and a career-high three steals in 40 minutes.

Its losing streak notwithstanding, Virginia had been playing better recently. The Cavaliers led Florida State at halftime last Tuesday, and they went into the break up 33-25 Sunday.

The Tigers missed their first 10 shots from 3-point range but eventually heated up. Clemson opened the second half with a 14-0 run that included two 3-pointers by sophomore guard Terrence Oglesby and a trey and a three-point play by senior guard K.C. Rivers.

Amazingly, Virginia didn’t fold. It pulled even at 40-40 on a Zeglinski 3-pointer and went up 44-42 on sophomore guard Jeff Jones’ two free throws.

For the game, UVa shot 53.1 percent.

“They punched us, and we just came back swinging,” said Zeglinski, who turned the ball over six times against Clemson’s vaunted full-court press but made all six of his shots from the floor, including three 3-pointers, and had six assists.

Zeglinski also played solid defense on the Tigers’ penultimate possession, forcing Oglesby into an off-balance 3-point attempt that didn’t fall. UVa forward Jamil Tucker grabbed the rebound and, after being fouled, hit 1 of 2 free throws with 6 seconds left in OT to seal the victory.