Six in a row

Cavs knock off Georgia Tech in ACC home opener

Story by Chris Graham
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With AFP Audio: Tony Bennett Postgame Press Conference

It wasn’t supposed to be this fast.

“That’s a good team, and we outlasted them,” said UVa. coach Tony Bennett after his Cavs had claimed their second Top 25 victim in three weeks, knocking off #20 Georgia Tech 82-75 on Wednesday night.

The win was the sixth in a row for Virginia after a 4-4 start that wasn’t entirely unexpected in Bennett’s first season in Charlottesville. The 2008-2009 ‘Hoos won only 10 games all season en route to coach Dave Leitao losing his job after a 4-12 tailspin in ACC play.

It’s still a little early to get too excited about the ’09-’10 Cavaliers, but 2-0 in the ACC is still 2-0 in the ACC – for a program that hasn’t won its first two in conference play in 15 years.

Tech (12-4, 1-2 ACC) closed a nip-and-tuck first half with a 9-3 run to lead 39-38 lead at the half. It was 59-56 Yellow Jackets with 8:59 to go when the Cavs took control with an 11-0 run over the next 3:41. It was 67-59 with 5:18 to go when Sylven Landesberg converted both ends of a 1-and-1.

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Audio: Tony Bennett Postgame Press Conference (10:53)
[audio:http://media.libsyn.com/media/thenewdominion01/UVA-GT_Tony_Bennett_Postgame.mp3] _____________________________________________________

It was 69-63 UVa. when Sammy Zeglinski hit a long three with the shot clock winding down at the two-minute mark that opened up a nine-point Virginia lead. Tech would get no closer than five down the stretch.

“That was what we needed – momentum,” Bennett said of the Zeglinski three. “You saw them bang some threes late, so we needed that cushion. That was crucial. You need those defining moments in a game.”

Landesberg led all scorers with 22 points. Mustapha Farrakhan added 15 points. Mike Scott scored 12 points, with a pair of thunderous, highlight-reel dunks. Zeglinski scored 10.

Zachery Peacock scored 19 points in 23 minutes off the bench to lead Georgia Tech.