UNC Basketball wins at Virginia for the first time since 2012

The media can finally stop saying it...

North Carolina's losing streak at Virginia is OVER!

For the first time since 2012, the UNC basketball program has won a game in Charlottesville, defeating the Virginia Cavaliers in a much-needed ACC contest.

The game was a typical type of game for Virginia: slow paced and not a lot of offense. In fact, the Cavaliers scored just 16 points on 16.7% shooting, as Cormac Ryan (who had 15 points) almost outscored the entire Virginia team by himself.

Although the Tar Heels held a double-digit lead at some points, the game always felt closer. Virginia shot a little bit better in the second half, but North Carolina went ice cold, as they had a stretch where they missed 9 of 10 shots.

Ironically, the 54 points the UNC basketball program scored were the most in a winning effort since... you guessed it- the last time North Carolina won a game at Virginia on February 25, 2012.

Ryan really was the spark plug for the Tar Heels, as he led all scorers with 18 points. With Armando Bacot plagued with foul trouble in the first half, along with RJ Davis and Harrison Ingram not really getting going offensively, it was Ryan who carried the load early on, as he set a new season-high with six three pointers made.

Davis had a very off night, finishing 1-14 from the floor. He still finished scoring in double-figures, as he made 9 of his 10 attempts at the free throw line.

Bacot was a dominant force in the second half, finishing with 10 points and 13 rebounds. His offensive rebound off a missed free throw was essentially the clinching play for the win.

It wasn't pretty, as North Carolina shot just 32% from the floor. However, you have to realize that games against the Cavaliers never tend to be pretty, but you just simply have to find a way.

Give credit to the Tar Heels: they got the job done in a tough place to play. With the win, combined with an earlier Duke loss, the UNC basketball program now holds a full one-game lead in the ACC standings heading into Monday's contest against the Miami Hurricanes.

The losing streak at Virginia is over. Thank goodness we don't have to hear about it anymore!