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Virginia vs. Tennessee
Date & Time Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012 | 7 p.m.
Location Charlottesville, Va. | John Paul Jones Arena
Coverage TV: ESPN3 | Listen on Cavaliers Live | Gametracker
Additional Information 2012-13 Ticket Information | Twitter | Facebook | Game Notes

Dec. 4, 2012

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia hosts Tennessee in men’s college basketball action on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at John Paul Jones Arena. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.

The game will be broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network and will be televised on ESPN3.

Virginia extended its season-best winning streak to five games with a 67-51 win over Green Bay in nonconference action on Dec. 1. The Cavaliers have also defeated Seattle (83-43), Lamar (63-44), North Texas (80-64) and Wisconsin (60-54) during the winning streak.

Tennessee dropped to 4-2 after its 37-36 loss at Georgetown on Nov. 30. The Volunteers have defeated Kennesaw State (76-67), UNC Asheville (75-68), Massachusetts (83-69) and Oakland (77-50) this season.

Virginia and Tennessee meet for the 12th time in the series that dates back to 1917. The teams have met three times in the NCAA Tournament, including a 77-74 Tennessee win in the last meeting between the teams in the second round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament. Virginia leads the all-time series 7-4 and has won four of the last six contests in the series.

The Cavaliers (6-2) have averaged 70.6 points per game and allowed just 51.2 ppg during their season-best winning streak.

Junior guard Joe Harris (Chelan, Wash.) and junior forward Akil Mitchell(Charlotte, N.C.) have led the way for Virginia. Harris and Mitchell are each averaging career highs in scoring and rebounding.

Harris ranks fourth in the ACC in scoring at 16.5 points per game after posting back-to-back 20-point efforts for the first time in his career in Virginia’s last two games. Harris is also grabbing 4.3 rebounds per game to go along with his career-best 46.3 percent (19-41) three-point shooting percentage.

Mitchell is averaging 12.6 points per game and ranks fourth in the ACC with 9.4 rebounds per game. Mitchell posted a career-high 20 points and nine rebounds against Green Bay and has three double-doubles this season.

Sophomore forward Darion Atkins (Clinton, Md.) has added 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, and is coming off a career-high 11-rebound performance vs. Green Bay. Forward Evan Nolte(Milton, Ga.) leads Virginia freshmen in scoring at 6.9 points per game.

Senior guard Jontel Evans(Hampton, Va.) contributed a career-high five steals and seven assists in a season-high 23 minutes against Green Bay. Evans, who was an All-ACC Defensive Team member last season, has missed five games this season with a foot injury.

Overall, UVa is averaging 64.9 points per game and leads the ACC and ranks sixth nationally in scoring defense at 52.9 ppg. The Cavaliers are 6-1 when holding opponents under 50 percent shooting from the field and 6-0 when shooting 70 percent or better from the free-throw line.

Virginia head coach Tony Bennettsports a 59-43 record, including a 38-16 nonconference mark, in four seasons at UVa.

Sophomore forward Jarnell Stokes leads Tennessee in scoring at 13 points per game, while junior guard Trae Golden has added 11.7 ppg. Junior guard Jordan McRae has added 9.5 ppg and three players – sophomore guard Josh Richardson, senior guard Skylar McBee and senior forward Kenny Hall – are averaging just over seven points each.

Cuonzo Martin has a 23-17 record in two seasons as head coach of the Volunteers. Tennessee was 19-15 overall and finished second in the SEC with a 10-6 record in Martin’s first season in 2011-12.

Single-game tickets for Virginia’s game with Tennessee are available and can be purchased online at VirginiaSports.com/tickets. Tickets may also be purchased on game day at the JPJA box office starting at 5:30 p.m.

Fans may also purchase tickets for the Virginia-Tennessee game through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office by telephone and in person. The 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).

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