Harris' 20 Leads Virginia Past Hampton, 69-40

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Nov. 26, 2013

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) – Joe Harris scored 20 points and Virginia scored 23 unanswered in the first half Tuesday night in a 69-40 victory against Hampton.

Justin Anderson added 12 points as the Cavaliers (5-1) won their fourth straight. It was the second game in a row in which Virginia had a run of at least 20 points. The Cavaliers outscored Liberty 20-0 during a second-half stretch on Saturday afternoon en route to a 75-53 victory.

Dwight Meikle led Hampton with 12 points. After Dionte Adams’ jumper midway through the first half, the only field goal they got for about the next 17 1/2 minutes came from Meikle with 1:32 left in the first half. Meikle finally hit from the field again with 12:28 to play, and by then the Pirates trailed 54-23.

Hampton finished shooting 33 percent with 17 turnovers; Virginia shot 51 percent and made 8 of 12 3-pointers.

Harris, who played 20 minutes, finished 7 for 7 from the field, including 4 for 4 from 3-point range, and had three assists.

The game was part of the Corpus Christi Challenge, and Virginia will face SMU on Friday night in Texas.

The Cavaliers were sloppy early, and a 6-0 run by the Pirates pulled them even at 16 on Adams’ bucket midway through the half.

Harris then sparked the huge run with a 3-pointer from the right side, and Justin Anderson followed with one from the right corner. Harris then had a traditional three-point play, a steal and a layup and another 3, and Anderson added a free throw and a 3-pointer, giving he and Harris the first 18 points.

Darion Atkins’ field goal and a three-point play by Anthony Gill capped the 23-point burst, making it 39-16, and the Pirates never made a run.

Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett began substituting freely with about five minutes remaining, and 12 of 15 players scored.