Virginia Plays at Clemson Saturday

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Jan. 11, 2013

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia men’s basketball team plays at Clemson in ACC action on Saturday, Jan. 12. Tipoff at Littlejohn Coliseum is set for 12 p.m.

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

The Cavaliers (11-4, 1-1 ACC) look to rebound after a disappointing 55-52 road loss at Wake Forest on Jan. 9. Virginia shot 36.4 percent and committed 17 turnovers in the loss to the Demon Deacons.

Virginia is 0-3 in its last three games against Clemson at Littlejohn Coliseum and 5-5 in its last 10 games against the Tigers overall. Clemson is one of three current ACC teams that Virginia has a winning record against. The Cavaliers are 68-51 all-time against the Tigers in a series that dates back to the 1935-36 season. Virginia is 21-34 all-time in Clemson, including an 18-23 mark at Littlejohn Coliseum. Virginia’s last win at Clemson was a dramatic 64-63 win on Jan. 28, 2007, as the Cavaliers scored the game’s final 15 points.

The Cavaliers rank in the top seven nationally in seven defensive categories, highlighted by their third-ranked scoring defense at 51.1 points per game. The Cavaliers have held 12 teams under 60 points and opponents are shooting 35.7 percent from the field against Virginia.

Offensively, Virginia is averaging 63.7 points per game and has scored 60 or more points 10 times. The Cavaliers are shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from 3-point range.

Junior Joe Harris (Chelan, Wash.) and Akil Mitchell(Charlotte, N.C.) continue to lead the Cavaliers. Harris tallied 13 points at Wake Forest and Mitchell recorded his sixth double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Harris has led the Cavaliers in scoring nine times and ranks seventh in the ACC in scoring at 15.1 points per game. Harris also ranks second in the ACC in three-point field goal accuracy (47.8%) and sixth in made three-point field goals per game (2.1).

Mitchell is averaging career highs in scoring (12.6 ppg) and rebounding (9.3 rpg). Mitchell ranks fourth in the ACC in rebounding and has led the team in rebounding 11 times.

Senior point guard Jontel Evans(Hampton, Va.) returned to the UVa starting lineup at Wake Forest after missing nine of the Cavaliers first 13 games with a foot injury.

Freshman Mike Tobey (Monroe, N.Y.) led Virginia in scoring for the third time with 14 points and a career-high seven rebounds at Wake Forest. Evan Nolte (Milton, Ga.) leads Cavalier rookies in scoring at 6.7 points per game, while Tobey is averaging 6.4 ppg and freshman Justin Anderson (Montross, Va.) is averaging 5.4 ppg.

Virginia head coach Tony Bennett sports a 64-45 record, including a 2-2 mark against Clemson. Bennett guided the Cavaliers to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.

The Tigers (8-6, 0-2 ACC) return to action after suffering a 68-40 loss at Duke on Jan. 8. Clemson has lost two consecutive games with its last win coming against The Citadel (92-51) on Jan. 1. Clemson has also defeated Presbyterian College, Furman, UTEP, Marist, South Carolina, Florida A&M and South Carolina State.

Clemson ranks third in the ACC in scoring defense at 57.1 points per game and 11th in scoring offense at 64.7 ppg. Senior forward/center Devin Booker leads the team with 11.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward K.J. McDaniels is averaging 11 ppg and senior forward Milton Jennings has added 9.8 ppg and a team-leading 42.9 percent shooting accuracy from 3-point range. Sophomore guard Rod Hall leads the team with 53 assists.

Third-year head coach Brad Brownell sports a 46-33 record at Clemson. Brownell guided the Tigers to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in his first season in 2010-11.

The Cavaliers return home for an ACC game against Florida State on Saturday, Jan. 19. Tipoff at John Paul Jones Arena is set for 4 p.m.