#14 UVA rolls past East Carolina, 76-53

#14 UVA rode streak shooting and trademark defense to an easy 76-53 win over East Carolina Tuesday night.

It took the Cavs (8-1) a while to get untracked in their final game before an upcoming 11-day break for final exams. ECU (7-3) made its first four shots from three-point range, and led 16-15 midway through the first half, as Virginia was struggling to get a footing offensively, missing eight of its first nine from long range and starting 4-of-14 from the field overall.

And then came the rare early Cavalanche. UVA finished the half on a 27-4 scoring run over the final 9:36, connecting on 11-of-12 from the field, and making its last seven threes of the opening 20 minutes, to go into the break up 42-20.

ECU cooled off big time after its initial flurry, missing 13 of its last 16 from the field in the first half, with nine first-half turnovers also cramping on the Pirates’ efficiency.

Telling stat of the game: Virginia had 15 assists on its 15 made baskets and just three turnovers, and didn’t score its first unassisted basket until a Jared Reuter runner in the lane with 14:13 to go.

Kyle Guy scored 13 points and had four assists in 21 minutes off the bench to lead UVA. London Perrantes had 12 points and five assists.

Marial Shayok and Mamadi Diakite each had 12, and Jared Reuter chipped in 10.

Jeremy Sheppard had 17 points to lead ECU.

 

Game Notes

• Virginia shot 56.6 percent (30-of-53) from the field and 42.9 percent (9-of-21) from three-point range.
• ECU finished at 36.7 percent from the field (18-of-49) and 10-of-23 (43.5 percent) from three.
• The Cavs had a 36-10 advantage in points in the paint.
• ECU committed 13 turnovers to six for Virginia, which had an 18-7 advantage in points off turnovers.