Huff and Hauser Propel No. 8 Virginia Past Syracuse, 81-58

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Jay Huff (Durham, N.C.) and Sam Hauser (Stevens Point, Wis.) each scored 21 points to lead No. 8 Virginia (11-2, 7-0 ACC) to an 81-58 win over Syracuse (9-5, 3-4 ACC) on Monday night at John Paul Jones Arena.

Huff’s 21 points were a career-high and he added 12 rebounds for a double-double. Hauser matched a career-high with seven three-pointers en route to a season-high 21 points.

Trey Murphy III (Durham, N.C.) had 16 points, hitting four threes, and had a season-high seven rebounds. Reece Beekman (Baton Rouge, La.) had 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.

The Cavaliers took the lead on a 14-2 run early in the first half and finished the game with a 12-2 run. UVA shot 49.2 percent from the field and 45.2 percent from beyond the arc, while holding Syracuse to 37 percent shooting and 21 percent from three-point range. Virginia made 14 threes in the game and outrebounded Syracuse, 41-28.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After Syracuse scoring the first two baskets, Virginia had a 14-2 run to take 14-6 lead. Hauser had five three-pointers in the first half and Murphy III added two. Syracuse cut the UVA lead to 30-26 with 3:13 to go in the first half. Huff hit a jumper and Hauser nailed a three to send UVA into the half up 35-26.

Hauser and Huff picked up where they left off in the first half, as both hit threes to force and early timeout by Syracuse. Murphy III and Beekman added threes, the Casey Morsell (Fort Washington, Md.) had a couple of baskets to put Virginia up 56-38 with 10:37 to play. Syracuse cut it to 11, but Virginia closed the game on a 12-2 run that was bookended by threes from Murphy III and Morsell to take the win.

THE GAME BALL GOES TO

Jay Huff recorded his second double-double of the season with 21 points and 12 rebounds. He tallied six dunks in the game, going 8-for-11 from the floor.

FROM TONY BENNETT

What do you think of how the newcomers (three of five starters) handled the Syracuse zone for the first time?

“Obviously I can’t complain and I thought when you make shots that helps but I liked our movement, how we shared the ball, took a lot of threes and made a lot (of threes). We got a variation of some high-low pass seams, some back cuts, some decent dribble penetration so I think, I don’t have a stat sheet in front of me, but I think it was a 22-assist night. Again, sharing the ball and when Sam (Hauser), Trey (Murphy) and Jay (Huff) are shooting like that and the other guys making good decisions. I thought it felt right.”

NOTES

• The Cavaliers (11-2, 7-0 have a seven-game winning streak and have started 7-0 in the ACC for the first time since starting 12-0 in 2017-18
• UVA is 4-0 when scoring 80 or more points in 2020-21
• UVA had a season-high 23 assists
• UVA had a season-high 41 rebounds
• Hauser has four or more 3-pointers in each of the last three games
• Clark handed out a season-high nine assists
• Murphy III had season highs in rebounds (7) and blocks (2)

UP NEXT

Virginia travels just down the road to No. 20 Virginia Tech on Saturday, January 30 at 6 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network.