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Virginia vs. NC State
Date & Time Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 | 7 p.m.
Location Charlottesville, Va. | John Paul Jones Arena
Coverage TV: ESPN2 | Listen on Cavaliers Live | Gametracker | ONLINE: ESPN3
Additional Information 2012-13 Ticket Information | Twitter | Facebook | Game Notes

Jan. 28, 2013

Coach Bennett Previews NC State Game

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia hosts NC State in Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball action on Tuesday, Jan. 29. Tipoff at John Paul Jones Arena is set for 7 p.m.

The game will be televised by ESPN2 and broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network and ESPN Radio.

Virginia (14-5, 4-2 ACC) extended its winning streak to three games after its 65-51 win over Boston College on Saturday. Freshman Justin Anderson (Montross, Va.) had a career-high 16 points and junior forward Akil Mitchell (Charlotte, N.C.) added 16 points and six rebounds in the win.

NC State (16-4, 5-2 ACC) defeated North Carolina, 91-83, Saturday to end its 13-game losing streak against the Tar Heels. Lorenzo Brown had 20 points to lead five NC State players in double figures.

The Cavaliers are 58-81 all-time against NC State in a series that dates back to 1912-13. Virginia is 35-23 against the Wolfpack in Charlottesville, including a 4-0 mark at JPJA. Virginia and NC State split two game last season as the Cavaliers beat the Wolfpack, 61-60, at JPJA, and NC State beat UVa, 67-64, in the ACC Tournament. The Cavaliers are 4-1 in their last five games against the Wolfpack.

The Cavaliers have held their first ACC opponents under 60 points for the first time in ACC history and rank in the top nine nationally in seven defensive categories, highlighted by its second-ranked scoring defense of 51.1 points per game. Offensively Virginia is averaging 62.8 points per game, shooting 46 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3-point land.

Junior Joe Harris (Chelan, Wash.) leads the ACC in 3-point shooting accuracy at a career-high 46.7 percent. Harris also leads Virginia in scoring at 14.8 points per game. Mitchell is averaging career highs in scoring (12.3 ppg) and rebounding (8.8 rpg), while senior point guard Jontel Evans (Hampton, Va.) is averaging 6.3 assists in his last three games.

Evan Nolte leads Virginia freshmen in scoring at 7.2 points per game and has started the last three games in place of the injured Darion Atkins (Clinton, Md.). Forward/center Mike Tobey (Monroe, N.Y.) has added 6.4 ppg and Anderson is averaging 6.1. Anderson is averaging 11.7 points per game and Nolte 9.7 ppg during the last three games.

Head coach Tony Bennett sports a 67-46 record, including a 4-1 mark against NC State, in four seasons at Virginia.

NC State leads the ACC and ranks sixth nationally in scoring offense at 79.8 points per game and is one of six teams nationally to have five players averaging in double figures in scoring. C.J. Leslie (15.4), Lorenzo Brown (13.2), Richard Howell (12.8), T.J. Warren (12.6) and Scott Wood (11.8) are all averaging over 11 points per game. Howell ranks second in the ACC in rebounding at 11.1 rebounds per game, while Leslie has added seven boards per game. Head Coach Mark Gottfried has a 40-17 record in two seasons at NC State and 318-172 in 16 seasons of collegiate coaching.

Single-game tickets for Virginia’s game against NC State 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-NC State 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).

The Cavaliers continue ACC play at Georgia Tech on Sunday, Feb. 3. Tipoff at McCamish Pavilion is set for 3 p.m.

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