Virginia Advances to Sweet 16 with 63-51 win over Oklahoma
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 1 seed Virginia advanced to the 2019 NCAA Sweet Sixteen with a 63-51 win over No. 9 seed Oklahoma on Sunday night at Colonial Life Arena.
Three players finished in double-figures to lead the Cavaliers. Mamadi Diakite (Conakry, Guinea, Africa) had a team-high 14 points, nine rebounds and added three blocked shots. Junior Ty Jerome (New Rochelle, N.Y.) had 12 points and redshirt sophomore De’Andre Hunter (Philadelphia, Pa.) added 10 points. Junior Braxton Key (Charlotte, N.C.) added nine points and nine rebounds.
Virginia shot 48 percent from the field, while holding Oklahoma to 37 percent shooting. UVA won the battle on the boards, 36-39, and outscored the Sooners 32-12 in the paint.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia opened the game with the first seven points. Down 13-9, UVA put together a 22-5 run to lead 31-18 with about a minute to go in the first half. The Cavaliers led 31-22 at the break. UVA scored the first five points of the second half before the teams traded baskets. Key had a layup then Jerome hit a three to five UVA its largest lead of the game, 48-32, with 12:52 to go. Oklahoma cut it to 10, but could not get any closer.
THE GAME BALL GOES TO
Mamadi Diakite scored 14 points, going 7-of-9 from the field. Diakite had six-straight points in the second half to keep UVA with a 13-point lead. He added three blocks and nine rebounds.
UP NEXT
Virginia will play the winner of 12-seed Oregon and 13-seed UC Irvine on Thursday, March 28 in Louisville, Ky.