Virginia Hosts Lamar in NIT Season Tip-Off Consolation Action

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Nov. 18, 2012

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia welcomes Lamar, North Texas and IUPUI to John Paul Jones Arena for NIT Preseason Tip-Off consolation action on Nov. 19-20.

IUPUI (2-2) plays North Texas (2-2) at 4:30 p.m. in the first game on Monday, Nov. 19 followed by Virginia (2-2) and Lamar (0-3) at 7 p.m.

Lamar and IUPUI play at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20 followed by Virginia and North Texas at 7 p.m.

Virginia will play Lamar and North Texas for the first time in school history.

The Cavaliers played their best basketball of the season in their 83-43 win over Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 17. Freshman forward/center Mike Tobey (Monroe, N.Y.) led the Cavaliers with a season-high 17 points, while junior forward Akil Mitchell(Charlotte, N.C.) added 14 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.

Freshman guard Justin Anderson (Montross, Va.) added a season-high 11 points and freshman forward Evan Nolte (Milton, Ga.) chipped in 10 points. Redshirt freshman Teven Jones(Kannapolis, N.C.) added four points and three rebounds in his collegiate debut. UVa shot a season-high 56 percent from the floor and outrebounded its opponent for the fourth straight game.

Junior guard Joe Harris(Chelan, Wash.) and Mitchell are averaging career highs in points and rebounds for Virginia. Harris is averaging a team-leading 15.3 points and five rebounds per game, while Mitchell is averaging 11 points and a team-best 13 rebounds per game. Harris has led UVa in scoring in three of four games and Mitchell has posted back-to-back doubles in points and rebounds in the last two games.

Nolte leads Virginia newcomers in scoring at 7.5 points per game, while Tobey has averaged seven points per game. Anderson has contributed 5.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and a team-leading 3.3 assists per game. Freshman Taylor Barnette(Lexington, Ky.) added eight points and four assists in the win over Seattle.

Virginia is averaging 62.2 points per game and limiting opponents to 52.5 ppg. The Cavaliers are 2-0 when holding opponents under 50 points. Virginia is 19-1 when holding opponents under 50 points during the Tony Bennettera. Bennett, who is 55-43 in four seasons at Virginia, sports a 34-16 record in nonconference action at UVa.

Lamar is looking for its first win of the season. The Cardinals are coming off a 70-49 loss at Charlotte on Nov. 17. The team is led in scoring by Rhon Mitchell and Donley Minor, who are averaging 14 and 11 points, respectively. Head coach Pat Knight has a 23-15 mark in two seasons at Lamar. Knight guided the Cardinals to the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

Tickets for the NIT Season Tip-Off consolation rounds are not part of the 2012-13 men’s basketball season ticket package. Reserved tickets for these games are on sale for $10 for each day. Reserved seats in sections 112-114 are being held for season ticket holders and Virginia Athletics Foundation donors.

Fans may purchase tickets for the NIT Season Tip-Off consolation rounds online at VirginiaSports.com or through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office by telephone and in person. The athletics ticket office is located in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium and open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Telephone purchases can be made by calling 1-800-542-UVA1 (8821) or locally at 434-924-UVA1 (8821). Tickets may also be purchased on game day at the JPJA box office starting at 3 p.m. Please note that individual tickets purchased each day are valid for both games on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

Parking for the NIT Season Tip-Off consolation rounds is free and available in the John Paul Jones Arena surface lot and the University Hall and McCue Center lots. John Paul Jones Arena garage parking pass holders will receive a separate parking pass to be used for the NIT Season Tip-Off consolation round games.