CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — J.C. Mathis and Virginia were prepared when Rutgers concentrated its defense on the Cavaliers' leading scorers.
Mathis scored a career-high 16 points, including two key late baskets, and Travis Watson had 18 as the fifth-ranked Cavaliers rallied to beat Rutgers 76-68, extending their winning streak to eight games.
"I was lucky because a lot of teams key on Roger (Mason) and Chris (Williams)," Mathis said. "We talk a lot about that kind of situation."
Rutgers, which had won eight straight games, used a 12-0 run bridging halftime to take a 45-36 lead with 19:04 remaining in the game. That prompted Gillen to call a time out.
Coming out of the huddle, the Cavaliers (8-0) scored seven straight points to get within 45-43. Virginia tied it 48-48 on Adam Hall's jumper with 13:51 left.
Virginia eventually edged ahead 61-57. But the Scarlet Knights pulled to within a point, at 66-65, heading into the final three minutes, before the Cavaliers scored eight points in a row to secure the victory.
Jerome Coleman scored 16 points, and Herve Lamizana had 15 for Rutgers (8-3). The Scarlet Knights made 15 of 28 shots in the first half, but just 12 of 32 in the second.