Cavaliers Return Home to Down Radford 54-44

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CHARLOTTESVILLE-Senior guard Mustapha Farrakhan and freshman guard Joe Harris each scored 14 points, and senior forward Mike Scott had his fifth consecutive double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Virginia men’s basketball team to a 54-44 victory over Radford University at John Paul Jones Arena on Tuesday (Dec. 7).

Freshman guard KT Harrell added 13 points for the Cavaliers.

The victory was the third in a row and fourth in five games for the Cavaliers who are now 6-3 on the season. The loss was the sixth in a row for the Highlanders who are now 2-6.

The game was the first of eight consecutive home games for UVa. The Cavaliers had played six consecutive games away from home before the game with Radford.

Virginia held Radford scoreless for 14:45 spanning halftime and outscored the Highlanders 22-0 during that stretch to take control of the game. Radford led 19-15 after a three-point field goal by sophomore guard Evan Faulkner with 7:34 left in the first half, but trailed 37-19 before freshman guard Jareal Smith made two free throws with 12:49 left in the game. The Highlanders got no closer than 10 points the rest of the game.

Harrell scored eight points and Farrakhan seven as the Cavaliers scored the last 17 points of the first half to take a 32-19 halftime lead.

Harrell scored all 13 of his points in the first half when he was 5-5 from the field, including 3-3 from three-point range.

Scott is the first Virginia player to have five consecutive double-doubles since Ralph Sampson in 1983.

Sophomore guard Gorkem Sonmez scored 15 points and had six rebounds to lead the Highlanders. He was the only Radford player to score in double figures.

Virginia shot just 27.7 percent (13-47) from the field in the game, including 38.1 percent (8-21) from three-point range. The Cavaliers were 20-24 (83.3 percent) from the free throw line and out-rebounded the Highlanders 35-30.

UVa’s 27.7 percent field goal shooting is the lowest for the Cavaliers since shooting 27.5 percent against Georgia Tech on Dec. 4, 2005.

Radford shot 38.6 percent (17-44) from the field, including 40 percent (4-10) from three-point range, and the Highlanders were 6-8 from the free throw line.

Radford turned the ball over 19 times and Virginia had 13 turnovers. The Cavaliers blocked a season-high seven shots.

Virginia now breaks for exams and doesn’t play again until Oregon comes to John Paul Jones Arena on Dec. 17. That game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.