Virginia needs double overtime to break its hex at Miami

It doesn't matter that Virginia was playing at a venue in which it had never won. It doesn't matter that Virginia blew an 18-point halftime lead. It doesn't matter that one of Virginia's best players fouled out with more than two minutes to go in regulation.

Like every other game they've played so far this season, the Cavaliers still managed to find a way to win.

Unbeaten Virginia escaped with an 89-80 double-overtime victory at Miami on Saturday night thanks to the late-game heroics of Justin Anderson and London Perrantes.

Anderson was the hero of the first overtime period for Virginia, scoring six points in the final seconds to force a second extra session. The 6-foot-6 junior drew a foul on a 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining, sank three free throws to narrow the gap to one and buried a game-tying 3-pointer just five seconds later after Miami had extended the lead to three with a pair of foul shots.

Perrantes kept Miami at bay in the second overtime, repeatedly attacking off the dribble and getting to the foul line. All nine of Perrantes' points in double overtime came on free throws as the sophomore point guard finished with a game-high 26 for the game along with eight assists.

Virginia's victory ensured that at least three teams will be undefeated at the end of the night. Previously unbeaten TCU and Villanova already lost to West Virginia and Seton Hall earlier Saturday, while fellow unbeaten Colorado State faces a stiff road test at New Mexico on Saturday night.

Miami can take pride in rallying from an 18-point halftime deficit and tying the game on three last-second free throws from Angel Rodriguez late in regulation, but the Hurricanes will also rue the opportunity for a marquee win they let slip away. Even after Anderson's game-tying 3-pointer, Miami had one last chance to win in regulation, but Rodriguez let too much time slip off the clock before initiating the offense and the Hurricanes did not get a shot off before the buzzer sounded.

Saturday's loss is Miami's fourth in six games after an 8-0 start that included a Charleston Classic title and what seemed like a quality win over Florida at the time. The Hurricanes have since lost by double figures to Green Bay, Eastern Kentucky and Providence before their narrow loss to Virginia.

In a stat that seems odd given the pedigree of both programs, Miami had beaten Virginia all six times they had faced one-another in Coral Gables entering Saturday's game.

They squandered a big lead and fell behind in overtime, but the Cavaliers somehow managed to snap that unlikely streak.