No. 15 Virginia Tops Saint Francis in Home-Opener

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 15 Virginia men’s basketball team (2-1) used balanced scoring in its 76-51 win over Saint Francis (Pa.) (1-2) on Tuesday afternoon at John Paul Jones Arena.

UVA had 10 different players score and four finish in double-figures. Jay Huff (Durham, N.C.) led the way with 13 points, Kadin Shedrick (Raleigh, N.C.) had a career-high 12 points, Sam Hauser (Stevens Point, Wis.) added 11 and Trey Murphy III (Durham, N.C.) finished with 10.

Virginia shot 52 percent for the game, while Saint Francis shot 36 percent. Virginia had 35 bench points and led 40-18 in points in the paint. The Cavaliers also had the edge in rebounds (38-25).

HOW IT HAPPENED

Virginia scored the first eight points of the contest and didn’t look back. With two 9-0 runs and a 10-0 run in the first half, the Cavaliers shot 66.7 percent and had nine different players score. The defense limited Saint Francis (Pa.) to just four field goals and 17 percent shooting.

UVA led by as many as 42 in the game. The Cavaliers had a 13-2 run in the second half to take their largest lead of the game, 62-20, with 13:52 to play. Shedrick scored six of his 12 points in the second half and Carson McCorkle (Greensboro, N.C.) scored his first career points on a jumper with 1:42 to play. 

THE GAME BALL GOES TO

Kadin Shedrick finished with a career-high 12 points and added a team-high eight rebounds.

NOTES

• The Cavaliers have scored 70 or more points in two of its first three games
• UVA scored 70 or more points in two of 30 contests last season
• Shedrick had career highs in points (12) and rebounds (8)
• Huff blocked three shots to move into a tie for 8th on UVA’s all-time list with 108
• Huff has multiple blocks in each of the first three games
• Reece Beekman made his first career start and contributed a season-high four assists
• Tomas Woldetensae made his first start of the year and contributed eight points and career-best four assists

FROM TONY BENNETT

On the emphasis of play in the paint tonight:

“I guess it goes without saying that was an area of focus the last four days. I really was pleased with our first half of playing. Now, St. Francis, they were without their key guard, and that when he played well, that’s how they beat Pitt. So that was a big blow to them and I’m always realistic. But we played really good basketball defensively and offensively in the first half. And we got on the glass, as you mentioned. We touched the paint, scored in the paint and offensive rebounds, so that that was good to see, and just moved in, tried to do what we could. So I think that was a step in the right direction, in the first half. Second half, not so much, but first half.”

UP NEXT

Virginia remains at home to host Kent State on Friday, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network.