/
.
Cavaliers Face Clemson at JPJA on Wednesday
Story Links
CHARLOTTESVILLE-The Virginia men’s basketball team returns to John Paul Jones Arena on Wednesday (Feb. 2) when the Cavaliers host Clemson in an Atlantic Coast Conference game that is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.
Wednesday’s game will be televised by ESPNU and broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network.
Tickets are available for the game (click here for ticket information). Tickets can be purchased online at VirginiaSports.com/tickets and can also be purchased on game day at the JPJA box office starting at 7:30 p.m.
Virginia enters the game with Clemson with an overall record of 11-10 and a 2-5 record in the ACC. The Cavaliers are coming off a 76-71 loss at Wake Forest last Saturday (Jan. 29) and have lost five of their last six games.
Junior center Assane Sene recorded the first double-double of his career with 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds to lead five UVa players in double figures in scoring in the loss to Wake Forest. The 15 points are a career high for Sene and his 13 rebounds marked the second consecutive game he’s reached double figures in rebounds.
Freshman guard Joe Harris (14), senior guard Mustapha Farrakhan (13), junior guard Sammy Zeglinski (11) and sophomore guard Jontel Evans (10) also scored in double figures for Virginia. Farrakhan has scored in double figures in seven of the last eight games.
It’s just the second time under head coach Tony Bennett that Virginia has lost a game when scoring at least 70 points (now 17-2).
Farrakhan (12.8 ppg.), Harris (10.4 ppg.) and freshman guard KT Harrell (10.1 ppg.) are all averaging in double figures in scoring for the Cavaliers. Sene is averaging 5.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots a game. Evans leads UVa in assists (77, 3.7 apg.) and steals (29, 1.4 spg.).
Evans ranks eighth in the ACC in assists and ninth in assist to turnover ratio (1.8), while Harris is 10th in the conference in three-point field goals made (41, 2.0 pg.). Farrakhan is 10th in the ACC in free throw percentage (78.8 percent, 67-85) and 14th in scoring (12.8 ppg.).
Virginia leads the series with Clemson 66-50 and the Cavaliers lead 39-16 in games played in Charlottesville. The teams have split the two games played at John Paul Jones Arena.
Clemson enters Wednesday’s game with an overall record of 15-6 and a 4-3 record in the ACC. Clemson is coming off a 62-44 win at home over Florida State last Saturday. The Tigers have won their last two games and 10 of their last 12.
Senior guard Demontez Stitt leads Clemson in scoring (13.8 ppg.) and is second on the team in assists (66, 3.5 apg.). Senior center Jerai Grant is averaging 12.6 points a game and leads the Tigers in rebounding with an average of 7.2 a game. Junior guard Andre Young leads Clemson in assists (68, 3.2 apg.) and is averaging 10.6 points a game. Among the Tigers’ other top scorers are sophomore forward Milton Jennings (8.5 ppg.), junior guard Tanner Smith (8.5 ppg.) and sophomore forward/center Devin Booker (8.4 ppg.).
Brad Brownell is in his first season as the head coach at Clemson. Prior to taking over the program at Clemson, Brownell was the head coach at Wright State for four years and at UNC Wilmington for four years. His teams at Wright State and UNC Wilmington compiled a combined record of 167-85 and participated in the NCAA Tournament three times (twice at UNC Wilmington and once at Wright State).
After the game with Clemson, the Cavaliers return to action on Saturday (Feb. 5) at Miami. That game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. It will not be televised, but will be broadcast online at TheACC.com.