Fifth-ranked Virginia took control with a 15-2 first-half run and never looked back in posting an 77-66 win over Notre Dame on Saturday at a sold-out John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va.
The Cavaliers (12-1, 1-0 ACC) went ahead 36-24 at the half and led by as many as 19 in the second half.
The Fighting Irish (9-4, 0-1 ACC) scored on their first four possessions, but were just 7-of-21 from the field from that point on in the opening 20 minutes, and never could get into a rhythm offensively.
UVA got 24 points from Malcolm Brogdon, 18 in the second half, including a pair of early threes, after going just 2-of-6 from the field in the opening 20 minutes.
Brogdon was 7-of-8 from the field in the second half.
Anthony Gill had 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field for Virginia. Mike Tobey had 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting off the bench.
Demetrius Jackson had 18 points for Notre Dame, 14 in the second half.
Game Notes
- The Irish shot 48.2 percent from the floor for the game (27-of-56) and were 7-of-22 from three-point range (31.8 percent). Coming into the game, Notre Dame had been shooting 39.1 percent from long range.
- UVA shot 57.1 percent from the floor (28-of-49) and was 4-of-11 (36.4 percent) from three.
- The ‘Hoos outrebounded the Irish 30-25.
- London Perrantes was held to three points, but had five assists for UVA, which had 17 assists on its 28 made baskets. Notre Dame had just eight assists on its 27 made baskets.
- Virginia was 17-of-24 from the free-throw line, 12-of-14 in the second half. Notre Dame was 5-of-7 from the line for the game.
- Virginia is 9-1 all-time against Notre Dame, including a 4-0 mark since the Fighting Irish joined the ACC for the 2013-14 season
- Virginia won its 11th straight game – this is UVA’s third streak of 10 wins or more under Tony Bennett
- Now in its 63rd season in ACC play, Virginia is 28-35 all-time in ACC openers (won last nine)
- UVA is 7-0 in ACC openers under Tony Bennett
- Notre Dame started 4-for-4 from field over opening 2:46 of the game, but went 3-for-15 over the next 10:43 as UVA went on a 21-6 run
- UVA held a 36-24 lead at halftime; the 12-point advantage was UVA’s second largest at the break this season (Long Beach State, 41-23, on Nov. 20)
- UVA shot 57.7 percent in the first half, its second-best first-half shooting percentage of the year (60 percent against George Mason)
- Virginia is 9-0 this season when leading at the half
- UVA is 130-36 in 10 seasons at JPJ, including 92-20 under Tony Bennett
- After getting out-rebounded in each of the last two games, Virginia out-rebounded Notre Dame 30-25; UVA is 9-0 when out-rebounding its opponent
- Virginia shot 57.1 percent and is now 7-0 when cracking the 50-percent mark this year
- Virginia’s field goal shooting was the best of any Notre Dame opponent this year; the previous high for an Irish opponent was 54.4 percent, set in a loss to Alabama
- UVA cracked the 70-point barrier for the ninth time in 13 games
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Chris Graham
