Boston College @ Virginia preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 7, 2020 ) Virginia 53, Boston College 60

Virginia began a midseason slump with a loss at Boston College on Jan. 7, but the defending national champion has managed to rebound of late with a series of close wins. The Cavaliers look to continue their surge and improve their NCAA Tournament resume when they host the Eagles in an ACC rematch Wednesday.

Virginia is 5-1 since the 1-4 stretch that began with the Boston College loss - winning all five games in the run by single digits, including two in overtime and a last-second 64-62 triumph on junior guard Tomas Woldetensae's 3-pointer at North Carolina on Saturday. "We've been so close in every game and it was an important game for us," Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett told reporters Saturday. "So, thankful for how our guys responded and I thought we made plays down the stretch as they did, too." The Eagles have been exchanging wins and losses for four weeks, most recently bouncing back from a setback at Miami (Fla.) to knock off North Carolina State 71-68 on Sunday at home. Senior guard Derryck Thornton scored 22 points as Boston College matched its best ACC win total in coach Jim Christian's six seasons at the helm.

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: ACC Network

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (13-13, 7-8 ACC): Thornton hit all 11 of his foul shots against the Wolfpack while boosting his team-leading scoring average to 13.1. Freshman guard Jay Heath (12.6) contributed 16 points and junior forward Steffon Mitchell - who entered Tuesday leading the ACC with 2.3 steals per game - had two of his three thefts in the final moments, both leading to breakaway dunks by sophomore forward Jairus Hamilton. "I feel like I'm never surprised with Stef," Thornton told reporters of Mitchell. "Stef plays, probably one of the hardest people I've ever seen play on the court. He gives 110 percent every time he touches the floor."

ABOUT VIRGINIA (17-7, 9-5): Woldetensae's game-winner at North Carolina finished an 18-point effort and gave him at least six made triples for the third time in his past six contests. Senior forward Mamadi Diakite leads the team in scoring at 13.7 after putting up 15 against the Tar Heels, while sophomore guard Kihei Clark ran the show with 10 points and nine assists, leaving him ranked third in the conference with 6.1 helpers per game. Senior guard Braxton Key (9.7 points, team-leading 7.2 rebounds) will be looking to break out of a three-game slump in which he has produced a total of 12 points on 5-of-19 shooting.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Thornton missed the first matchup while Heath led the Eagles to a 60-53 win with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

2. Cavaliers freshman G Casey Morsell scored 10 points - more than twice his season average - and collected a career-high three steals at North Carolina.

3. Virginia has won five straight meetings at home.

PREDICTION: Virginia 63, Boston College 55