Virginia Returns To Action Against Howard On Wednesday

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CHARLOTTESVILLEThe Virginia men’s basketball team returns to action on Wednesday (Nov. 14) when the Cavaliers host Howard University at John Paul Jones Arena. UVa enters the game with a 1-0 record after a season-opening 90-72 victory over Vermont on Nov. 11. Virginia has won its last 10 season openers.

Senior co-captains Adrian Joseph and Sean Singletary led the Cavaliers to the victory over Vermont. Joseph scored 19 points had six rebounds and tied his career high with three assists. He also tied his career high with five three-point field goals. Singletary scored 19 points, had a game-high six assists and five rebounds. He has scored in double figures in 23 consecutive games.

Sophomore guard Calvin Baker and junior forward-guard Mamadi Diane also scored in double figures for Virginia. Baker scored 11 points and Diane had 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Fourteen players saw action in the game for the Cavaliers and 10 of them scored. UVa out-rebounded the Catamounts 46-25 and Virginia shot 54.7 percent (29-53) from the field, including 47.4 percent (9-19) from three-point range.

“When you play a good team, and (Vermont head coach) Mike (Lonergan) has got a really good team that is going to do well in the America East Conference, it is going to give you a mental test more than anything,” said Virginia head coach Dave Leitao after the Cavaliers’ victory over the Catamounts. “At the same point and time, we’ve got a lot of work to do and I knew that coming in. We’ve got to continue to grow. I can nitpick enough, particularly in the second half, about our lapses, physically and mentally. That gives us a lot to continue to work on and improve.”

The victory over Vermont improves Virginia’s record in John Paul Jones Arena to 17-1.

The game with Howard will be the third between the two programs with Virginia holding a 2-0 advantage. Howard is 0-1 after a 129-59 loss at Duquesne to open the season last Friday (Nov. 9). Junior forward Eugene Myatt scored 16 points to lead the Bison in that game, while junior forward Randy Hampton and senior guard Jeron Smith each scored 11 points.

Wednesday’s game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and is the first for the Cavaliers in the Philly Hoop Group Classic.