Cavaliers Down Northwestern 94-52 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge

Story Links

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) -Mamadi Diane scored 22 points and made six of Virginia’s 16 3-pointers Tuesday night as the Cavaliers easily handled Northwestern for the third time in the last four years in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, 94-52.

The Cavaliers (6-1), coming off their first loss of the season, made it a rout from the beginning. Eight of their first nine baskets were 3-pointers, and first-half runs of 17-4 and 21-8 helped them lead by as many as 27. It was 54-29 at halftime.

Northwestern (1-4), which lost to Brown in its last game, shot 44 percent in the first half but made only 11 field goals; Virginia, conversely, had 12 3-pointers.

Calvin Baker added 16 points and made all four of his 3-point shots for Virginia. Sean Singletary added 14 points with three 3-pointers and a career-high 10 assists.

Michael Thompson led the Wildcats with 14 points and Jason Okrzesik had 12. The Wildcats shot 35.7 percent, were outrebounded 43-28 and missed 11 of 15 free throws.

The tone was set very early, after Virginia fell behind 4-3. Adrian Joseph gave them the lead with a 3-pointer, and Jamil Tucker followed with another. Following a 3 by Thompson for Northwestern, Singletary and Diane both made one for the Cavaliers.

Before the Wildcats scored again, Baker hit a 3-pointer and the Cavaliers’ first 2-point basket, Joseph hit his second 3-pointer and Baker’s second made it 26-11.

Virginia also made certain Northwestern wouldn’t rally after the break, starting the second half on a 9-2 run capped by another 3-pointer by Diane to lead 63-31.

Shortly thereafter, Virginia coach Dave Leitao began substituting freely. The biggest roar of the game came when seldom-used Andy Burns made a jumper from the left side.

The victory gave the Cavaliers a 5-3 record in the annual matchup with the Big Ten and got a six-game homestand off to a good start following a 74-60 loss to Seton Hall.

Virginia has won 12 games in a row at John Paul Jones Arena.