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Nov. 17, 2000
Listen to Coach Pete Gillen’s comments after the game
By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) – Back in the polls for the first time in fouryears and beginning a season of high expectations, No. 25 Virginia made fastwork of Long Island, winning the opener for both 96-50 Friday night.
Stephane Dondon led Virginia with 17 points, Travis Watson had 16 and 10other Cavaliers scored. Virginia shot 61 percent, making 36 of 59 shots.
The Cavaliers, ranked for the first time since December 1996, put the gameaway with a 30-4 run that took up about nine minutes of the first half. Theyturned a 12-9 advantage into a 42-13 lead 4:04 before the break.
Long Island, picked to finish 10th in the Northeast Conference, missed 11 of13 shots and had five turnovers during Virginia’s run. The Blackbirds, who hitonly 20 of 57 shots for 35 percent, were led by Dawan Gary with 12 points andMaurice Yearwood with 11.
The Cavaliers led 50-21 at halftime and coasted, essentially scoring twopoints for every one the Blackbirds managed until Virginia coach Pete Gillenemptied his bench with the score 75-37 and nine minutes left.
The end came early, and quickly, for the Blackbirds.
Keith Friel started the 30-4 blitz with consecutive 3-pointers, and theCavaliers also got scoring from five others. They hit 13 of 19 shots in therun, including 3-pointers from Roger Mason and Chris Williams.
The Blackbirds finished the half with more turnovers, 10, than field goals,eight, and were outrebounded 19-11. Virginia shot 62 percent in the half andhit six of nine 3-point tries, with five players making at least one.
Gillen, beginning his third season with the Cavaliers, used 10 players byhalftime and all 13 that dressed.