CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. ? Virginia’s standouts weren’t around, so sophomore J.R. Reynolds stepped up in overtime.

Reynolds’ driving layup with 1.5 seconds remaining gave the 25th-ranked Cavaliers a 79-77 victory over Loyola-Marymount on Thursday night.

“I don’t know how we won. … Luckily, J.R. had the guts to make that drive and make a big shot,” Virginia coach Pete Gillen said. “We had guys hurt and guys in foul trouble. We had different groups in there for most of the game but our guys just showed courage and got the victory.”

It was the first game for the Cavaliers (8-1) since Dec. 8 because of an exam break.

Elton Brown led Virginia with 25 points, but he fouled out.

Devin Smith, the Cavaliers’ leading scorer going into the game with an 18.1 average, finished with 12 points after leaving the game with 12:26 remaining because of an apparent ankle injury.

And Virginia played without starting power forward Jason Clark, who had stretched a ligament in his Achilles’ tendon.

That set the stage for Reynolds, who was 3-for-9 from the field and had seven points. He said his winning basket was “a shot I that I make in practice.”

“I just drove the lane and floated it,” said Reynolds, who on the previous possession committed a turnover that allowed the Lions to tie the game with 13 seconds remaining.

Virginia's Elton Brown, right, drives for a layup against Loyola Marymount. The Cavaliers won, 79-77 in overtime, Thursday in Charlottesville, Va.

Sean Singletary added 12 points for the Cavaliers, including a key three-pointer in overtime, and T.J. Bannister had 11 points.

Matthew Knight led Loyola-Marymount (7-3) with 27 points.

“I thought we played very hard in a very hostile environment and had a chance to win,” said Lions coach Steve Aggers, whose team nearly beat No. 12 Washington earlier this month.

No. 10 Pittsburgh 69, Richmond 60

Pittsburgh — Carl Krauser scored a career-high 31 points, and No. 10 Pittsburgh held off Richmond in the first game between the schools in 66 years.

Jermaine Bucknor scored 13 points for the Spiders (4-4), who closed to 62-58 with just over 3 minutes remaining. But Krauser made four free throws, and Ramon added two down the stretch.

No. 20 George Washington 81, Florida International 71

Miami — T.J. Thompson hit six three-pointers and scored 25 points, leading the Colonials to their eighth straight victory. George Washington (8-1) used a 10-1 run early in the second half to take a 44-35 lead. Ivan Almonte had 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Golden Panthers (5-5), who dropped to 0-13 all-time against ranked teams.

No. 24 Maryland 82, American 61

College Park, Md. — John Gilchrist scored 20 points and fueled a 16-0 second-half run that gave the Terrapins a 66-48 lead. Nik Caner-Medley had 16 points for Maryland (7-2). Jason Thomas scored 14 points for the Eagles (5-3), whose five-game winning streak ended. The Terrapins have won 12 in a row over American since 1926.