Cavaliers Host North Carolina Thursday in ACC Home Opener

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CHARLOTTESVILLE The Virginia men’s basketball team opens the home portion of its Atlantic Coast Conference schedule on Thursday (Jan. 15) when the Cavaliers host No. 5 North Carolina. The game is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN.

UVa enters the game with an overall record of 7-6 (1-1 ACC) after a 78-75 loss to Virginia Tech Saturday in Blacksburg. Freshman guard Sylven Landesberg led Virginia with 20 points, his eighth 20-point game of the season. Sophomore guard Mustapha Farrakhan scored a career-high 17 points on 5-7 shooting (4-5 3FG) and sophomore forward Mike Scott added 16 points.

The Cavaliers will be looking to win their ACC home opener for the third time in four years and are looking to defeat an AP top five team for the first time since an 87-84 win over No. 3 Duke at University Hall on Feb. 28, 2002.

North Carolina leads the all-time series 122-48, including a 42-30 edge in the games in Charlottesville. Last season the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 75-74 in the only meeting between the schools at John Paul Jones Arena.

North Carolina enters Thursday’s game with a record of 14-2, 0-2 in the ACC. The Tar Heels were ranked No. 1 before dropping their ACC opener to Boston College on Jan. 4. In their last game, the Tar Heels suffered a 92-89 loss at Wake Forest on Sunday.

Following the game against North Carolina, Virginia returns to action on Tuesday (Jan. 20) at Maryland. Game time is 8 p.m. and the game will be televised by Raycom.