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Dec. 26, 2000
By DOUG FEINBERG
AP MegaSports Writer
Virginia, which is off to its best start in eight years, plays host toBucknell on Thursday.
The eighth-ranked Cavaliers (8-0) were last in the top 10 during the 1992-93season, when they started the season with 11 consecutive victories.
Roger Mason scored 23 points and Travis Watson had 19 points and 16 reboundsas Virginia defeated Maryland-Baltimore County 85-69 Saturday night atUniversity Hall.
Coming off an emotional rout of Tennessee earlier in the week at the Jimmy VClassic, Virginia came out sluggish in the first half. The Cavaliers led only42-40 at intermission.
“Our guys were a little tired, a little beat up,” Virginia coach PeteGillen said. “We weren’t physically real sharp. Mentally and emotionally, weweren’t real sharp.”
However, the Cavaliers responded in the second half, holding UMBC to just 11percent shooting.
Virginia, which was playing without guard Keith Friel, went 1-for-13 from3-point range. Friel, who shoots 58 percent from behind the 3-point arc,injured his left knee last week against Tennessee.
“I don’t think they would have been able to stay in the zone as long ifKeith was healthy,” Gillen said. “If he could nail a couple of 3s, that wouldprobably take them out of the zone.”
It is unknown whether Friel will play against Bucknell.
Senior guard Donald Hand had two steals in Saturday’s victory to become justthe third Virginia player with at least 1,000 points, 300 rebounds, 400 assistsand 150 steals in a career.
Bucknell (5-4) is coming off an 84-72 loss to Penn State on Friday.
Bryan Bailey scored 17 points before fouling out with 17 seconds left.Boakai Lalugba scored 14 points, and Brian Werner had 13 for the Bison, whomissed all seven of their 3-point attempts.
The teams have met only twice before, with Bucknell winning in 1960 andVirginia taking the 1980 matchup.