GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Virginia coach Tony Bennett keeps pushing his sixth-ranked Cavaliers for more in what is already the programs best season in more than three decades. Next up is the chance to do something that even Ralph Sampson couldnt do: Win an Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title. Anthony Gill hit two free throws with 8.5 seconds left to help Virginia hold off Pittsburgh 51-48 in Saturdays semifinals, sending the Cavaliers to their first championship game in 20 years. Virginia arrived in Greensboro with its first outright regular-season title since 1981 and only its second No. 1 seed. The Cavs have just one title: the 1976 championship led by tournament most valuable player Wally Walker. "It would be great to put another banner and have that to share with them," Bennett said. "Wally sent me a text: We want some company." The Cavaliers (27-6) didnt have an easy time putting themselves in position for it, letting an eight-point lead slip all the way to one in the final seconds. But Gill, who was shooting 63 per cent from the line, calmly made both free throws after James Robinsons hanging layup that had made it 49-48. Pitt had a chance to tie with 4 seconds left, but Justin Anderson tipped Robinsons 3-pointer to Gill with 0.5 seconds left. Joe Harris scored 12 points to lead the Cavaliers, who shot 47 per cent against the fifth-seeded Panthers (25-9) to earn their first trip to the final since losing to North Carolina in Charlotte in 1994. "Theres no better feeling, of course, but well celebrate later," Anderson said. "Were to a point where we have a chance to make a run, not just in the ACC but the NCAA tournament, and we have to ... continue to be humble. This team cherishes that and this team understands that and well be fine." Virginia, which has its best win total in 31 years, will face the North Carolina State-Duke winner Sunday. Lamar Patterson and Talib Zanna each scored 15 points to lead Pitt, which was in its first ACC tournament. The Panthers, who were going for their first appearance in a league tournament championship game since winning the Big East title in 2008, shot just 37 per cent. The teams met only once this year, when Malcom Brogdon hit a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in a 48-45 road win on Feb. 2. This one came down to another tight finish, though the Cavaliers kept the Panthers at arms distance for most of the final minutes and maintained a fragile hold on the game. After trailing by eight, Pitt closed to within 47-44 and got a good look for the tie on Josh Newkirks 3-point attempt with 1:45 left, but never could level the game. "Neither team really made that many mistakes," Robinson said. "Every mistake that we did make, they capitalized on." Pitt got as close as 49-48 when Robinson stripped Brogdon and drove for a hanging layup over Akil Mitchell -- hitting it through contact from Mitchell but with no whistle --with 10 seconds left to set up Gills big free throws. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon thought Robinson shouldve been going to the line to tie it, too. "What can you do?" Dixon said. "We just watched it. Everybody saw it. I cant comment on anything else besides that. I cant state the obvious." Mitchell didnt put up much of an argument, saying he was a little surprised there was no whistle. "I wanted to contest it as best as I could," he said. "I definitely didnt want to foul. But, you know, they let it go." Virginia led 26-24 at the break and used a strong shooting start to the second half to finally build a working margin. The Cavaliers took their biggest lead on Gills hook shot to make it 45-37 with 9:30 left. But the Cavaliers suddenly went cold, going 6 minutes without a point while the Panthers started inching back into the game. Pitt opened its first ACC tournament with a 29-point romp against Wake Forest in Thursdays first round. The Panthers then dominated No. 15 North Carolina for much of Fridays quarterfinals, building a 20-point lead before having to hold off a frantic comeback attempt to reach the semifinals. Pitt lasted the longest of the three new league members. Notre Dame was eliminated in the tournaments first-round opener Wednesday, while N.C. State upset No. 11 Syracuse in Friday nights quarterfinals. Clint Capela Jersey . Acclaimed by world football leaders but held in contempt by many football fans. Blatter should arrive at the Itaquerao stadium in Sao Paulo to watch host Brazil play Croatia confident that this tournament -- his fifth as president -- wont be his last leading the worlds favourite sport. PJ Tucker Rockets Jersey . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Marc-Andre Fleury, Penguins (3) - Surrendered a tough first goal against on a deflection through the body short side. http://www.therocketsofficial.com/Authentic-Gerald-Green-Rockets-Jersey/ .Sinclair, from Burnaby, B.C., led the Canadian team with three goals at the four-nation competition. She also earned tournament most valuable player honours.The Canadian captain scored on a penalty kick in the 63rd minute and added the winning goal a minute later. Eric Gordon Rockets Jersey . Lupul injured the hand in a fall at practice on Thursday. He will wear a cast for a minimum of 10 days before he can put a glove back on it and get some mobility back, said Carlyle, who added the winger wont go on the teams upcoming road trip. Chris Paul Jersey . His stated reason for abruptly resigning as head coach of Canadas Olympic womens hockey team was he felt there were doubts about his ability to coach the team to Olympic gold in February. VANCOUVER -- Nigel Reo-Coker picked a good time to shine offensively -- and miss a glorious scoring chance. Reo-Coker assisted on the only goal the Whitecaps needed and misfired on the play leading to their second as Vancouver blanked the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 on Saturday. Brazilian striker Camilo, on a pass from Reo-Coker, and Kenny Miller, on the Englishmans miss, scored second-half goals 14 minutes apart as the Whitecaps (10-7-6) ended a three-game winless skid before a crowd of 20,151 at B.C. Place Stadium. Vancouver also put six points between the two clubs in the ultra-tight Western Conference. The Earthquakes (8-10-6) saw their winning streak end at three games. Reo-Coker, a 29-year-old midfielder from London who logged more than 200 matches in the English Premier League, said he was able to succeed after coach Martin Rennie instructed him to play more of an attacking role. "It gave me a bit more freedom to get in the box and join in with the forwards and the strikers," said Reo-Coker. "And thats what I did." Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted recorded his first MLS shutout as he made his home debut, and only his second start, since signing with Vancouver in June. It was Vancouvers fourth clean sheet of the season by three different goalkeepers. After a tight, scoreless first half, Reo-Coker stood out as the clock struck the 60th minute when he sprinted with the ball from midfield, ran down the right flank with two defenders giving chase and put a pass behind another to Camilo, who flicked the ball inside the far post to give the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead. "I just saw (Camilo) out of the corner of my eye," said Reo-Coker. "So all I could do was just put it in there, because I couldnt take it any further. So I just put it in the box and then hoped that he could get there." The goal was Camilos 14th of the season and moved him into a tie for the MLS scoring lead with Chicagos Mike Magee, who was also playing Saturday. "Its very important," said Camilo of the league scoring lead. "Im more happy (when) our team wins the really important games. Today, we pick up three points. Its very important for us." Miller gave the Whitecaps a 2-0 lead in the 74th minute as he put in a Russell Teibert cross from the right flank. The goal came after Reo-Coker mis-kicked on Teiberts pass, hitting nothing but air, and the ball went through to Miller, who returned after missing the previous game with a groin injury. "It was a great goal by Kenny," said an embarrassed Reo-Coker with a chuckle. "Im just happy the team made a goal on that. We got the goal and we got the result. Thats the main thing, getting the result." Reo-Cokers offensive efforts came after he blocked Chris Wondolowskis attempt to tap in a rebound off goalkeeper Ousteds hand in the 53rd minute. The two second-half goals, which gave the Whitecaps 36 on the season, surpassing their totals in the past two campaigns, were just reward for Vancouvers strong defensive effort in the first 45 minutes.ddddddddddddOusted, a former Danish Superliga star who signed with the Whitecaps in June, excelled in making five saves. San Jose counterpart Jon Busch was credited with just two as his team recorded 18 attempts on goal compared to 11 for Vancouver. Ousted kept the first half scoreless as he dove to get his arm on a Cordell Cato shot in the 39th minute. In the 70th minute, the Vancouver goalkeeper caught a short-range bicycle kick from former Whitecap Shea Salinas, whose free kick led to the Wondolowski scoring chance that Reo-Coker stopped earlier in the second half. "It was great getting (the first MLS shutout) at home, at B.C. Place in front of the home fans," said Ousted. "It was good to get started with a clean sheet and a nice win. "Its important right now with the table being as tight as it is and (the need for) getting the points at home." Vancouvers Gershon Koffie, playing in the holding midfielder spot for the first time, was also a strong presence as he returned from a one-game suspension for yellow-card accumulation. He filled the role usually performed by Jun Marques Davidson, who returned to the lineup from a one-game suspension for head-butting a Philadelphia player two weeks ago but was relegated to the bench. Rennie felt Koffie played his best game in a long time. "There was a lot of great individual performances today," said Rennie. "Im just really happy with the performance and, ultimately, with the win." The loss spoiled Earthquakes interim coach Mark Watsons first game in his hometown since taking over in June from Frank Yallop, who also grew up in Vancouver. "We are obviously very disappointed," said Watson. "It was a big game. We knew there was a lot on the line. ... They took their chances -- and we didnt. Notes: Central defender Andy OBrien returned to Vancouvers lineup after missing two months with a hamstring injury suffered in early June, but did not play. ... Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the first game of the season, hopes to sign a contract extension in the near future. He was negotiating with the club at the start of the season, but talks were put on hold as he recovered from his injury. He has resumed full training and is expected back in late August or early September. ... Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch has played every minute of each match this season. ... San Joses Clarence Goodson and Rafael Baca both drew yellow cards for fouls on Teibert in the first half. But Teibert also received a yellow card in the second half. ... Vancouver striker Tommy Heinemann made a rare appearance as he subbed in for Miller in the final 86th minute. ' ' '