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Cavaliers Score 49-47 Win Over Clemson
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CHARLOTTESVILLE-Senior guard Mustapha Farrakhan scored a game-high 21 points, including six points in the final 34 seconds, and had a team-high six rebounds to lead Virginia to a 49-47 Atlantic Coast Conference victory over Clemson Wednesday night (Feb. 2) at John Paul Jones Arena.
A jumper by Farrakhan with 34 seconds to play put Virginia ahead for good and he added four free throws as the Cavaliers held off the Tigers. His 21 points marked the fourth time this season he has scored at least 20 points in a game.
Red-shirt junior guard Sammy Zeglinski scored 12 points and was the only other Virginia player to score in double figures. Zeglinski’s 12 points tied his season high and he also had five rebounds.
Junior guard Andre Young led the Tigers with 13 points and was the only Clemson player to score in double figures.
The victory improved UVa’s overall record to 12-10 and the Cavaliers are now 3-5 in the ACC. The loss drops Clemson’s overall record to 15-7 and the Tigers are 4-4 in the ACC.
Virginia led 29-13 at halftime and still led by 15 (38-23) after a jumper by freshman guard KT Harrell with 11:37 to play. Clemson then went on a 19-4 run and tied the game at 42-42 on two free throws by Young with 49 seconds left in the game. Senior guard Demontez Stitt scored eight points in the Tigers’ run and Young had five points.
Farrakhan hit his jumper with 34 seconds left to give the Cavaliers the lead for good and he added two free throws with 24 seconds to play. After a basket by Clemson sophomore forward Devin Booker brought the Tigers within two points at 46-44 with 14 seconds remaining in the game, Farrakhan made two more free throws with 11 seconds left. Sophomore forward Milton Jennings of the Tigers made a three-pointer and Farrakhan was fouled again with two seconds to play, but was injured on the play and left the game. Junior center Assane Sene shot the two free throws for UVa and made the first. Sene missed the second free throw and Clemson gained possession, but turned the ball over before getting off a shot.
Virginia jumped to a 14-1 lead in the game’s first seven minutes on the strength of four three-pointers by Zeglinski. After Clemson closed to 18-13 with 7:06 left in the first half, Farrakhan scored the last 11 points of the half to give the Cavaliers their 16-point halftime lead. Farrakhan made three three-pointers and two free throws during that run.
Clemson’s 13 first-half points were the fewest allowed by the Cavaliers since UMBC scored 13 first-half points on Dec. 21, 1996 (a 57-34 UVa victory).
The Cavaliers’ 49 points were their fewest in a win since a 48-44 victory at Northwestern on Dec. 1, 2004.
Virginia shot 39.5 percent (17-43) from the field in the game, including 33.3 percent (7-21) from three-point range, and 72.7 percent (8-11) from the free throw line.
Clemson shot 33.3 percent (19-57) from the field in the game, including 16.7 percent (3-18) from three-point range, and 54.5 percent (6-11) from the free throw line. The Tigers out-rebounded the Cavaliers 39-31 and had 18 offensive rebounds.
Virginia returns to action on Saturday (Feb. 5) when the Cavaliers play at Miami. That game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and will not be televised. It will be broadcast online at TheACC.com and on the Virginia Sports Radio Network.