Cavaliers Open Season With 75-38 Win Over South Carolina State

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CHARLOTTESVILLE-Sophomore guards KT Harrell and Joe Harris each scored 13 points and senior forward Mike Scott had 15 rebounds to lead Virginia to a 75-38 victory over South Carolina State Sunday afternoon (Nov. 13) at John Paul Jones Arena.

The game was the season-opener for the Cavaliers. The Bulldogs are now 1-1.

Harris, who also had six rebounds and four assists, scored 11 of his points and Scott had 12 of his rebounds in the first half as the Cavaliers took a 33-18 halftime lead.

South Carolina State senior forward Omar Sanders scored the first basket of the second half before Virginia scored 24 consecutive points to take a commanding 57-20 lead with 13:01 left to play in the game. Harrell made three three-pointers during the UVa run.

Freshman guard Malcolm Brogdon added nine points and four assists for the Cavaliers, while Scott, junior guard Jontel Evans and sophomore forward Akil Mitchell each scored eight points.

Sanders led South Carolina State with 13 points and senior center Presano Bell and junior guard Khalif Toombs each scored 10 points for the Bulldogs.

Virginia out-rebounded South Carolina State 44-29 and held the Bulldogs to 25.5 percent (13-51) shooting from the field. UVa shot 49.0 percent (25-51) from the field, including 42.1 percent (8-19) from three-point range, and 73.9 percent (17-23) from the free-throw line.

The 37-point margin of victory was the biggest for the Cavaliers in the Tony Bennett era and the largest since a 42-point win (94-52) over Northwestern on Nov. 27, 2007. UVa held an opponent under 50 points for the eighth time in the Bennett era (second time under 40 points).

The Cavaliers return to action on Tuesday (Nov. 15) when they host Winthrop at John Paul Jones Arena. That game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.