/
.
No. 11 Virginia 85 Turns Back East Tennessee State, 85-62
Story Links
Nov 18, 2001
By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Adam Hall, slowed by knee tendinitis that causedhim to miss 10 days of practice, was angry.
Late in the first half, the Virginia guard broke to the basket, the crowdstirring. But his shot was swatted away by Cory Seels before it even got close.
Hall’s revenge came in the second half. He scored 15 of his 19 points,including the last 10 in a 12-2 stretch, as No. 11 Virginia pulled away to beatEast Tennessee State 85-62 Sunday.
“It was just me being frustrated and angry at myself in the first half andcoming out in the second half trying to help my team out,” said Hall, whoseoutburst featured two 3-pointers and a big dunk.
Hall also scored 15 of his 18 points in the Cavaliers’ opener Friday nightafter the break, and caught the attention of his teammates.
“He was more aggressive and he asserted himself,” said Roger Mason Jr.,who led Virginia with 20 points. Mason also laughed about the big rejection,saying it was the first time he’d seen Hall denied.
“The next time he’s going to throw one on somebody,” he said.
The Cavaliers (2-0) led 42-31 at halftime against the rugged Buccaneers. Itwas 53-38 after J.C. Mathis scored with 15:17 to go, and 63-40 when Hall’s twofree throws finished his spurt with 12:01 remaining.
“We tried to mix defenses to try to keep them off balance as best wecould,” Buccaneers coach Ed DeChellis said. “They’re just much bigger andstronger, athletic and quick. We just couldn’t keep up the pace.”
The Buccaneers were called for 28 fouls to Virginia’s 16, and the Cavaliershad a 31-12 advantage in scoring from the line.
East Tennessee State (1-1), which beat Guilford 90-61 in its opener Fridaynight, never got back in it as Virginia coach Pete Gillen emptied his bench,getting plenty of experience for his top four freshmen.
After playing Howard at home on Wednesday night, the Cavaliers schedule getstougher with a game against No. 16 Michigan State a week later in the ACC/BigTen Challenge in Richmond.
After playing at top speed in a 105-74 victory against Wagner on Fridaynight, Gillen was glad to see the Buccaneers’ slower approach.
“It was a different look entirely, so it was good challenge for our youngteam,” he said. “We’re still not a cohesive team.”
Travis Watson had 14 and 13 rebounds and Chris Williams scored 13 for theCavaliers, who held the Buccaneers to 23-for-66 shooting, 35 percent.
Zakee Wadood and Jerald Fields led the Buccaneers with 12 points each andTiras Wade had 11. The Bucs also had 11 shots blocked.
“It’s a lot different than Guilford College,” DeChellis said.