Cavaliers Host Liberty on Nov. 23

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Nov. 22, 2013

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Virginia (3-1) hosts Liberty (1-3) in the first round of the Corpus Christi Challenge on Saturday, Nov. 23. Tipoff at John Paul Jones Arena (14,593) is set for 4 p.m. ET.

Broadcast Information
The game will be streamed online at ESPN3.com and broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network. Live statistics (GameTracker) will be located on VirginiaSports.com, as well as the new Virginia Sports app, which is available free of charge through iTunes. Fans can also follow the game via Twitter at @UVaMensHoops.

Ticket Information
Single-game tickets may be purchased online at VirginiaSports.com/tickets. Fans may also purchase tickets 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 1-800-542-8821. Tickets may also be purchased on game day at the JPJ box office starting at 2:30 p.m.

For Openers
• Virginia meets Liberty for the first time since Nov. 25, 2008, when the Flames, coached by current UVa associate head coach Ritchie McKay, upset the Cavaliers 86-82 behind Seth Curry’s 26 points.
• Liberty head coach Dale Layer served as assistant coach under McKay at Colorado State (1998-2000) and Liberty (2007-08) after McKay served as an assistant coach under Layer at Queens University of Charlotte (formerly Queens College) from 1989-90.
• UVa is 46-19 against non-conference opponents during the Tony Bennett era.
• The Cavaliers rank second nationally in scoring defense at 49.8 points per game.
• Virginia is the lone ACC team with its five leading scorers (Malcolm Brogdon, Mike Tobey, Joe Harris, Anthony Gill & Akil Mitchell) all shooting 50 percent or better.

Virginia-Liberty Series
Virginia leads Liberty, 6-2, in the all-time series that dates back to 1993-94. The Cavaliers and Flames will meet for the second time at John Paul Jones Arena. Liberty’s two wins in the series came in the final season of Jeff Jones’ (1997-98) and Dave Leitao’s (2008-09) coaching tenures at Virginia.

The Head Coaches
Virginia: Tony Bennett (Green Bay, 1992), 79-54 in five seasons at UVa and 148-87 in eight seasons overall. Liberty: Dale Layer (Eckerd College, 1980), 64-71 in five seasons at Liberty and 334-264 in 21 seasons overall.

Virginia Receiving Votes in Latest National Polls
Virginia is receiving votes in the latest Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls. The Cavaliers were ranked No. 24 in the AP preseason poll, marking their first preseason AP top 25 ranking since being ranked No. 11 to start the 2001-02 season.

About the Cavaliers
Virginia ranks second nationally in scoring defense at 49.8 points per game, limiting opponents to 34.3 percent shooting from the floor. UVa has outrebounded each of its first four opponents, enjoying a +16.0 average rebound margin per game. The Cavaliers are averaging 63.5 points per game and have outscored their opponents 144-68 in the paint. Redshirt sophomore Malcolm Brogdon leads UVa in scoring at 12.3 points per game, while sophomore Mike Tobey is averaging 11.5 points and a team-leading 6.8 rebounds off the bench. Senior Joe Harris and redshirt sophomore Anthony Gill are averaging 10 and nine points, respectively, and senior Akil Mitchell has added 8.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Freshman London Perrantes, who moved into the starting lineup against Davidson, has just five turnovers in his first four collegiate games. Sophomore Justin Anderson has added 5.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while junior Darion Atkins has chipped in 4.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

Last Time Out
Virginia defeated Navy, 67-42, on Nov. 19 at JPJ. Anthony Gill led UVa with a career-high 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor as four Cavaliers landed in double figures in scoring. Joe Harris added 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers, and Mike Tobey and Malcolm Brogdon added 13 points apiece. UVa shot a season-high 56.6 percent (30-of-53) from the floor, but struggled at 20 percent (3-of-15) from 3-point land and 36.4 percent (4-of-11) from the charity stripe. Virginia dominated the glass for the fourth straight game, outrebounding the Midshipmen 40-19.

Up Next
Virginia hosts Hampton in the second round of the Corpus Christi Challenge on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Tipoff at John Paul Jones Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET.