#8 UVA closed out the first half with a 25-2 scoring run to create separation, and went on to defeat UNC-Greensboro, 76-51, on Friday.
The Cavs (1-0) shot 52 percent from the field and went 8-of-16 from three-point range in their first game without departed stars Malcolm Brogdon, Anthony Gill and Mike Tobey.
Virginia was also missing Austin Nichols (one-game suspension for violation of team rules) and Mamadi Diakite (something vague about a joint evaluation by UVA and the NCAA of his amateur status) for the season opener.
The ‘Hoos were balanced offensively, with no one taking more than eight shots from the field. Marial Shayok scored 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field to lead four Virginia players in double figures.
Darius Thompson had 12 points (4-of-6 from the field, 3-of-4 from three). London Perrantes added 10 points, and Isaiah Wilkins had 10 points and a team-best nine rebounds.
McDonald’s All-America guard Kyle Guy scored seven points on 3-of-5 shooting in 19 minutes off the bench.
The Pack Line D was solid as usual, limiting UNC-G to 37 percent shooting from the field and .864 points per possession.
UVA led 42-17 at the break, holding the Spartans scoreless for the final 8:40 of the first half.
UVA Team Notes
- UVA won the first-ever meeting between the teams
- The Cavaliers have won four straight season-opening games and are 18-1 in their last 19 openers
- UVA is 7-1 in season-opening games under eighth-year head coach Tony Bennett
- UVA closed the half on a 25-2 run, including a 17-0 run over the last 8:40
- UVA held UNCG scoreless for 11:19 over the first and second halves
- The Cavaliers out-rebounded UNCG 35-21
UVA Player Notes
- Darius Thompson’s streak of consecutive 3-pointers dating back to last season ended at eight, tying a school record
- Thompson (12 points) reached double figures for the seventh time at Virginia (eighth career)
- Thompson made a career-best three 3-pointers in the game
- Isaiah Wilkins (10 points) led Virginia with a game-high nine rebounds
- Marial Shayok had a game-high 15 points and career-best three steals off the bench
- Jack Salt had a career-high seven points and tallied his first career assists with three
- Jarred Reuter matched a career best with six rebounds
- Kyle Guy (7 points) and Ty Jerome (2 points) made their Virginia debuts
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Chris Graham
