Second-ranked UVA escapes with 50-47 win over Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech led by as many as 10 points in the second half, but second-ranked UVA outscored the Hokies 12-2 in the final 6:48 to escape with a 50-47 win on Sunday in front of a raucous sellout crowd at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Va.

Virginia (19-0, 7-0 ACC) made only two shots from the field in the opening 14:21 of the second half as the Hokies (8-11, 0-6 ACC) led by as many as 10. Justin Anderson came up big for the Cavs down the stretch, scoring 10 points in a 2:54 stretch, the last three on a three-pointer from the top of the circle to give UVA a 48-45 lead with 2:45 to go.

Virginia Tech scored just once in the final 6:48, on an Ahmed Hill layup with 1:04 to go that cut the Virginia lead to 50-47. Hill missed the and-one free throw, but after Darion Atkins missed the front end of a one-and-one with 13 seconds left, Tech has one last chance rim out at the buzzer when Adam Smith’s contested three rolled out the rim.

Anderson was the only UVA scorer in double figures with 12 points. Malcolm Brogdon had eight points, and Anthony Gill had eight points and seven rebounds for Virginia, which shot 34.7 percent from the field.

Smith led Tech with 15 points. The Hokies shot 45.2 percent from the field for the game.

 

Team Notes

• Virginia opens a season 19-0 for the first time since 1980-81 (started 23-0)
  • The Cavaliers open ACC play with a 7-0 record for the first time since 1980-81 (started 12-0)
• Virginia is 8-0 this season and 44-2 during the Tony Bennett era when holding opponents under 50 points
• The Cavaliers have won six straight games against Virginia Tech and have a five-game winning streak against the Hokies in Blacksburg
• Virginia held Virginia Tech scoreless for 5:42 late in the second half, marking the 19^th time UVa has held an opponent scoreless for five or more minutes this season
• Virginia has held 43 straight opponents and 44 consecutive ACC opponents below 50 percent shooting from the field
• Virginia has won its first seven true road games of a season for the first time since 1980-81 (won first 10 road games)
• The Cavaliers are 9-0 away from home this season
• Virginia is 11-2 in ACC road games over the past two seasons; the most road wins in the conference over that period

 

Player Notes

• Justin Anderson (12 points) led Virginia in scoring for the 10^th time and scored in double figures for the 15th time this season (42nd time in his career)