No. 1 Virginia beats Miami 59-50
Feb. 13, 2018
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CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) New No. 1 Virginia looked the part Tuesday, never trailing and holding Miami to 38 percent shooting to win 59-50.
Virginia’s De’Andre Hunter scored 22 points, including a four-point play. But defense was the difference for the Cavaliers, who limited an opponent to 50 points or less for the 12th time.
The Cavaliers (24-2, 13-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) won in their first game since 1982 as the No. 1 team. They bounced back from an overtime home loss Saturday to Virginia Tech that ended a 15-game winning streak.
The Hurricanes (18-7, 7-6) lost their second in a row, and lost at home for only the second time.
The Cavaliers climbed atop the poll this week and played as the top-ranked team for the first time since their memorable upset loss to Chaminade some 35 years ago. They mixed man-to-man and zone, and the Hurricanes had trouble making a shot against either defense, often settling for attempts from long range.
The Hurricanes threw up four airballs, and another clanked off the underside of the rim. Virginia shut down the Hurricanes’ transition game, and they managed only four fast-break points.
Kyle Guy scored 13 points for the Cavaliers, who shot 46 percent. Ty Jerome had seven assists – one more than the Hurricanes.
Miami missed 10 consecutive shots during a 13-0 run by the Cavaliers that put them ahead 26-12. At halftime Miami was shooting 21 percent and trailing 27-16.
An 8-0 run by the Hurricanes cut their deficit to 29-26, but they got no closer. An 11-2 spurt by the Cavaliers put them ahead 49-36, and Hunter’s four-point play with three minutes left sealed the win.
BIG PICTURE
Virginia: The Cavaliers improved to 2-7 against Miami, with their only other win three years ago. They improved to 7-0 on the road in the ACC this season.
Miami: The Hurricanes shot under 40 percent for the seventh time.
UP NEXT
Virginia: The Cavaliers have seven days off before facing Georgia Tech at home on Feb. 21.
Miami: Plays host to Syracuse on Saturday.
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