Brogdon's 21 lift No. 6 Virginia to Charleston Classic title

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Box Score Nov. 22, 2015

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VIDEO: Coach Bennett Postgame Press Conference

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) Malcolm Brogdon had 21 points, London Perrantes had 16 points and 11 assists and No. 6 Virginia beat George Mason 83-66 to win the Charleston Classic championship on Sunday night.

The Cavaliers (4-1) used a first-half run to take control for the third time in three games here, ending a week that began with an upset loss to George Washington with a tournament title.

It’s the third straight year Virginia’s won an in-season tournament, topping the field to take the Corpus Christi Championship in 2013 and the Barclays Center Classic title in 2014.

”It was definitely tough for us and the next day we got after it again,” said Perrantes, named the tournament’s MVP. ”We can’t do anything about that loss except move on and learn from it. Hopefully, it helps us in the long run.”

Virginia was tied with the Patriots (2-3) at 13 when it took off on a 17-7 surge to pull ahead.

After George Mason got within 36-33, the Cavaliers outscored the Patriots 11-6 the rest of the first half to move comfortably in front 47-39.

”I think we took a step in the right direction for the most part,” Bennett said. ”But you have to start over every game. If you assume you’ve got it defensively, you’re going down the wrong path.”

Jaire Grayer led George Mason with 16 points.

Anthony Gill had 15 points and Mike Tobey 14 for Virginia.

Shevon Thompson fell two rebounds shy of his third straight double-double in Charleston, finishing with 11 points and eight rebounds for the Patriots. Thompson went for 19 points and 16 rebounds in a win here over Ole Miss on Thursday, then came back with 20 points and 17 boards in beating Oklahoma State on Friday.

However, Virginia’s size with Tobey and Gill underneath was too much for Thompson to overcome.

Perrantes’ double-double was his first since he had 10 points and 10 assists against Syracuse last March. Perrantes was named the tournament’s MVP.

Virginia used big first-half runs to pull away from Bradley in the tournament opener Thursday and Long Beach State on Friday night.

It looked like the Cavaliers would use the same formula against the Patriots. Tobey had four baskets, all from in close, to fuel a 17-7 run over a 6-minute stretch of the period to lead 30-20.

George Mason, though, battled back, cutting the lead to 36-33 on Otis Livingston II’s 3-pointer.

Virginia rallied once more, with Tobey adding four points in an 11-6 run over the final 3 minutes before halftime.

The Cavaliers led 47-39 at the break.

Virginia picked things up in the second half, opening with an 8-1 run to increase the lead to 55-40. George Mason couldn’t get closer than eight points the rest of the way.

TIP INS

George Mason: Marko Gujanicic is the only Patriots starter to have played against Virginia. The 6-foot-8 senior had six points and seven rebounds when George Mason upset Virginia 63-59 in November 2012. Gujanicic finished with 10 points and five rebounds in this one.

Virginia: The Cavaliers have picked up the scoring pace this season. They have 80 points or more in four of five games this season. Virginia accomplished that just twice last year.

UP NEXT

Virginia plays Lehigh at home on Wednesday night.