NEW YORK — When Virginia went on its 19-3 run in the final 9:32 of the first half Friday in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament, Clemson center Elijah Thomas blamed it on himself.

“I was in foul trouble,” Thomas said after the game. “When I am in foul trouble it is hard for our team to do the things that we are normally accustomed too.”

With Thomas on the bench with two fouls, the sophomore had to watch as Virginia held the Tigers without a basket during that stretch. It turned out to be the difference in the game as the top-ranked Cavaliers downed No. 4 seed Clemson, 64-58, to advance to Saturday’s ACC Championship Game at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn.

Thomas finished the game with 15 points and 7 rebounds.