The scoreboard was deceiving at the half, with #9 Virginia up on Pitt, 29-27, in what looked like a defensive game by the numbers.
But the Panthers were scoring rather effectively, at a 1.038 points per possession clip, in what was actually just a low-possession game making it look like the Ds were doing their jobs.
Pitt tied the game at 31-31 with 18:52 left in the game on a jumper by Sheldon Jeter, his second bucket in as many possessions to start the second half.
And then, well, that was pretty much it.
Pitt wouldn’t score again from the field for 7:36, by which point Virginia had opened up a double-digit lead.
The Panthers would then go on another five-minute-plus stretch without a field goal, and then yet another four-minute-plus stretch.
The final tally for the second half: 8-of-21 from the field, 0-of-7 from three-point range, .821 points per possession.
That’s Virginia defense, and also how you win games against quality opponents in a tough road environment.
More defense
UVA held Pitt to .926 points per possession for the game, the third straight ACC opponent that has failed to crack the 1.000 points per possession line, after the Cavs’ first eight ACC foes scored at that rate or better.
A week ago, Virginia was a middling 46th nationally, and sixth in the ACC, in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com.
UVA is now 15th nationally, and second in the ACC, giving up .932 points per possession on the season.
Offensive efficiency
Solid game against an average Pitt defense: Virginia scored 1.143 points per possession for the game, shooting 48.0 percent from the floor (24-of-50) and a blistering 9-of-16 (56.3 percent) on threes.
For the season, KenPom.com has UVA scoring 1.180 points per possession, seventh nationally, fourth-best in the ACC (Notre Dame is first, Duke second and North Carolina fourth).
Brog Wild
Malcolm Brogdon was coolly efficient again on Saturday, scoring 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, 3-of-5 from three.
Over the past two games, Brogdon has scored 48 points on 19 field-goal attempts.
Which is nice.
Stealing some minutes
How about that stretch of the second half where Jarred Reuter went seven minutes, and Virginia built its lead?
Mike Tobey picked up his third foul at the 14:48 mark of the second half, after subbing in for Anthony Gill, who had picked up his third foul at the 16:23 mark.
Coach Tony Bennett went to Reuter, and though the freshman didn’t do much to dent the stat sheet, he more than held his own defensively.
The impact on the scoreboard was what mattered most. Reuter entered with UVA up 43-34. He left at the 7:39 mark with the Cavs ahead 53-38.
Bennett also got some good minutes out of Evan Nolte, who showed his versatility playing nice D on Pitt’s stretch four, Michael Young, after Young had abused Gill and Tobey in the first half, getting the two bigs into foul trouble.
Nolte’s D stat line was modest – a blocked shot and two rebounds – but he was a key reason that Young finished with a modest 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting.
Second straight subpar game for AG
Gill had 10 points in Wednesday’s win over Boston College, but was just 1-for-4 from the field against the Eagles.
AG didn’t score on Saturday until the 5:28 mark of the second half.
He finished with four points on 2-of-7 shooting and three rebounds in 21 minutes.
More minutes for Shayok?
Marial Shayok had a nice afternoon, scoring eight points on 4-of-6 shooting with four rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 17 minutes.
Over the past four games, the sophomore has averaged 6.8 points per game on 55 percent shooting from the field in 16.3 minutes per game off the bench.
Wilkins with the dimes
Isaiah Wilkins had a team-high five assists in 27 minutes on Saturday.
Nice stat line for the afternoon: four points, seven rebounds, five assists, one turnover, +12 plus-minus.
Minutes watch
Brogdon and Perrantes both got 34 minutes. Wilkins went 27, Hall 24, Gill 21, Shayok 17, Tobey and Nolte 12 each, Darius Thompson 10, Reuter 8.
– Compiled by Chris Graham
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