Guy's 20 Powers No. 7 Virginia Past Grambling State, 90-34

Story Links

Box Score Nov. 22, 2016

Box Score | Quotes | Notes | USATSI Gallery

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) Freshman guard Kyle Guy made the biggest splash of his fledgling college career with 20 points in only 13 minutes Tuesday night. Yet the heralded Virginia recruit was upstaged by a trio of walk-ons who made the most of some rare extended playing time in a runaway victory.

Justice Bartley scored five points while Jeff Jones and Trevon Gross Jr. added three apiece for the seventh-ranked Cavaliers in a 90-34 blowout of Grambling State.

All three drew raucous cheers from the crowd – and the regulars watching from the bench – when they scored.

”It was really good to see Jeff and Tre and Justice, those guys that work so hard to prepare our guys in practice, get that many minutes and that many shots,” coach Tony Bennett said, laughing as he glanced at a stat sheet that showed Gross took eight shots in 11 minutes.

The rainbow 3-pointer he finally made with 3:40 remaining took an immediate place in Bennett’s memory bank.

”Those are some of my favorite memories,” the coach said, rattling off the names of other walk-ons getting their first points.

The Cavaliers (4-0) made quick work of the undermanned Tigers, running off 26 consecutive points to end the first half leading 49-9. The final score marked the 17th time in Bennett’s career at Virginia that the Cavaliers held an opponent below 40 points – and the third game in a row.

”I don’t think that you can imagine what it’s like to play against that defense,” Tigers coach Shawn Walker said.

Guy, who was Mr. Basketball in Indiana last season, shot 6 of 7 from the floor, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. Bennett removed him with 10:51 remaining and started substituting with walk-ons very early.

Marcel Thompson led Grambling State (1-3) with eight points.

Guy, the most heralded of a vaunted freshman class for Virginia, causes a stir in the crowd every time he shows off his quick release. When his shot falls, fans go wild. He whetted their appetite in the previous game by scoring 15 points, and was even better against the Tigers.

”It feels really good right now being out there,” Guy said. ”I try to be really poised and focused and make sure I am mentally prepared for each game. … I expect to go through my ups and downs, but will try to stay on an even keel through it all.”

Marial Shayok and Darius Thompson added 12 points apiece for Virginia.

The Cavaliers led by 40 at halftime after the 26-point burst, their largest lead at the break since the only other time they played Grambling, in 2001. They led that game 68-25 at intermission.

BIG PICTURE

Virginia: The schedule gets more serious for Virginia now with its next string of games against Iowa, Providence or Memphis, Ohio State, West Virginia and East Carolina.

TWENTY-SOMETHING

Virginia has had a run of at least 20 consecutive points in three of its four games. It outscored UNCG 22-0 in the opener, scored 20 in a row against Yale on Sunday night and had the 26-0 run against the Tigers. The Cavaliers are allowing 38.8 points per game this season.

HOMEBODIES

Virginia has won 23 straight at home, the sixth-longest streak in the country.

UP NEXT

Virginia plays Iowa in the Emerald Coast Classic on Friday night in Niceville, Florida.