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Virginia Upsets No. 10 Arizona, 78-60
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Nov. 21, 2004
By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) – Highly touted freshman Sean Singletary scored 15points and made several other huge plays Sunday night, leading Virginia to a78-60 victory against No. 10 Arizona.
The Cavaliers (2-0) led 34-22 at halftime and used several short runs tokeep the Wildcats at least nine back throughout the second half.
Arizona (2-1), on its way to New York to play Michigan in the semifinals ofthe Preseason NIT on Wednesday night, seemed a step slower than the Cavaliersall night, in part because Singletary, a former Philadelphia high school star,kept the Cavaliers and the crowd in it.
The 6-foot point guard was 6-for-11 from the field, had eight assists – manydrawing ooohs and aaahs from the crowd – and five rebounds. His layup with 4:55left and dazzling feed to Gary Forbes for another 50 seconds later ended theWildcats last push to get back in it, and drew roars.
Devin Smith led Virginia with 17 points and Forbes and Elton Brown added 13each. Virginia won despite going 4-for-17 3-point shots.
Channing Frye led Arizona with 17 points, Hassan Adams had 14 and SalimStoudamire 13, nearly 10 below his average. The Wildcats shot just 39.7 percentand hit just 5 of 24 from beyond the arc.
Virginia scored six of the first eight points in the second half to open a40-24 lead, its largest to that point, before Arizona responded with an 8-2run, pulling within 42-32 and prompting a Virginia timeout.
The Cavaliers must have heard something they liked from coach Pete Gillen,scoring nine of the next 12 points to lead 51-35 with 13:37 left.
The Wildcats twice pulled within nine again, but each time Virginiaresponded.
Arizona managed just three field goals in the last 11{ minutes of the firsthalf as Virginia put together a 23-9 run to lead 34-22 at halftime.
The Wildcats shot just 33 percent and hit one of 11 3-pointers.