A 20-5 UVa. run midway through the second half broke open a close game, and the Cavaliers were cutting down the nets in John Paul Jones Arena as ACC champs at the end of a convincing 75-56 win over fourth-ranked Syracuse Saturday in Charlottesville, Va.
Virginia (25-5, 16-1 ACC) led by as many as seven in the first half before a 13-5 Orange run put Syracuse on top 28-27 at the half. The teams traded the lead until the 11-minute mark, when the ‘Hoos took control with defense, limiting Syracuse (26-3, 13-3 ACC) to two field goals in a nine-minute stretch.
Virginia went 7-for-11 from the field in that same stretch, the key blows coming on a three by Justin Anderson with 7:36 to go to extend the lead to eight, and a three by Joe Harris after he had made 1-of-2 free throws and rebounded the miss on the second that extended the lead to 13 with 4:45 to go.
UVa. closed out the win going 8-for-8 from the line in the final 1:35 to ice it.
Syracuse was held to 30 percent shooting (9-for-30) in the second half after shooting 42 percent in the first half.
Virginia was 15-of-28 from the field (54 percent) in the second half, including 7-of-11 from three-point range.
Malcolm Brogdon led Virginia with 19 points. Akil Mitchell had 12 points and nine rebounds.
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