Virginia (7-1, NET: 15, KenPom: 24) faces Dayton (7-2, NET: 70, KenPom: 62) on Saturday at noon ET in the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
UVA arrives in the Queen City on the heels of an 88-69 win at Texas in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Wednesday.
The big difference in that one, vis-à-vis the uneven performances against Northwestern (83-78 win) and Butler (80-73 loss) at The Greenbrier Tipoff pre-Thanksgiving: defense.
The ‘Hoos held Texas to 27 points on 36.7 percent shooting in the first half as they built the original 19-point lead in the game, and led by 20+ for all but a minute-plus of the second half.
Dayton’s two losses are to Cincinnati (6-2, NET: 134, KenPom: 72) and BYU (7-1, NET: 9, KenPom 11), the latter a narrow 83-79 loss last week.
Coach Anthony Grant, 179-85 in his ninth season at Dayton, after stints at VCU (76-25 in three seasons) and Alabama (117-85 in six seasons), uses a nine-man rotation, built around 5’10” senior point guard Javon Bennett (16.0 ppg, 3.6 assists/g, 41.2% FG, 31.1% 3FG) and two guard De’Shayne Montgomery (15.8 ppg, 5.3 rebounds/g, 3.0 assists/g, 54.3% FG, 43.9% 3FG), a 6’4” junior.
Game Coverage
Update: 12:09 p.m. Virginia 6-4, 15:28/1st
Dayton is basically a four-guard team, so Ryan Odom quickly adjusted his lineup, and is going four-guard.
Dayton got a couple of early dribble-drive shots at the rim to start with the mismatches; nothing since.
Update: 12:19 p.m. Dayton 14-10, 11:33/1st
Virginia is getting open looks, not knocking them down. Just 4-of-12 from the floor, 0-of-4 from three.
This game has pace, just no offense.
The early tempo is a 66-possession game.
During this second stretch, went back to two big guys on the floor.
Dayton countered going zone on D.
Update: 12:33 p.m. Game tied at 17, 7:48/1st
The officiating is feeling like the Butler game at The Greenbrier.
Chance Mallory was mugged on a drive to the basket; call: held possession.
Similar play before that one: Devin Tillis was called for a reach-in.
Play after: Ugonna Onyenso was whistled for a touch foul on what should have been a steal.
Update: 12:45 p.m. Virginia 26-22, 4:00/1st
Virginia has made its last five shots from the floor, and is now 10-of-19 (52.6%).
Virginia 16-8 advantage on the boards.
Update: 1:00 p.m. Virginia leads 37-33 at the half
‘Hoos shot 54.5% (12-of-22), outrebounded Dayton 18-12, but, man, 12 turnovers.
Dayton shot 41.4% (12-of-29), but had an 11-4 edge in points off turnovers.
That 34.3% turnover rate: unacceptable.
But that’s what Dayton does: they’re fifth in the nation in defensive turnover rate.
Ugonna Onyenso had eight points and three boards in nine minutes off the bench to lead Virginia.
Fouls will be an issue: Dallin Hall had three, Malik Thomas and Jacari White had two each.
Update: 1:25 p.m. UVA 52-41, 15:12/2nd
Back-to-back threes from Devin Tillis and Jacari White lead to an Anthony Grant timeout.
Virginia is on a 13-3 run over the last 2:47.
Three threes in the stretch.
Update: 1:32 p.m. Virginia 57-41, 13:25/2nd
Cavalanche in full effect: 18-3 run now over the past 4:34.
It was just a one-point game like a minute ago, it feels.
Virginia is 7-of-9 FG this half, 4-of-6 from three.
Update: 1:38 p.m. Virginia 62-45, 11:12/2nd
Jacari White had three in the first half. He has 13 in the second half: the last 13 for the ‘Hoos.
Three threes, two layups.
Somebody pick up #6.
Update: 1:48 p.m. Virginia 69-53, 7:32/2nd
Virginia is 7-of-9 from three this half; 11-of-16 from the floor overall.
Jacari White is still on the heater: 6-of-6 FG, 4-of-4 3FG this half.
Update: 2:01 p.m. Virginia 74-67, 4:10/2nd
Dayton on a 14-0 run over the last 2:38.
Three turnovers and two missed layups in the stretch.
Update: 2:08 p.m. Virginia 79-67, 1:56/2nd
Jacari White, man.
Hit a three to stop the run.
He has 22 in the second half: 8-of-8 FG, 6-of-6 3FG.
Virginia 79-67, 1:56/2nd
Jacari White, man.
Hit a three to stop the run.
He has 22 in the second half: 8-of-8 FG, 6-of-6 3FG.
Final: Virginia 86, Dayton 73
Jacari White had 25 points, 22 in the second half, making all eight of his shot attempts in the second half, six of them threes, to key an otherwise sloppy Virginia – 21 turnovers – to an 86-73 win over Dayton on Saturday in Charlotte.
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Chris Graham
