No. 25 Virginia Downs Radford 73-52
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — No. 25 Virginia (1-1) cruised past Radford (1-1) 73-52 in nonconference action Friday night at John Paul Jones Arena.
Armaan Franklin scored 21 points and Jayden Gardner added 18 as the Cavaliers avenged a season-opening loss to Navy on Tuesday.
Kadin Shedrick added 10 points, five rebounds and four steals. Shedrick went 10 of 10 from the free throw line as the Cavaliers enjoyed a 24-6 line from the charity stripe.
UVA shot 47.4 percent from 3-point range and outrebounded the Highlanders 32-20.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UVA used a 20-2 run to erase an early 8-3 deficit and never looked back in its first win of the season. Gardner scored six of his 18 points during the run and Franklin added five of his 21 points including a long 3-pointer. The Cavaliers also forced five turnovers during the run. UVA shot 6 of 11 from 3-point range and sank 9 of 11 free throws to gain a 41-21 halftime lead.
THE GAME BALL GOES TO:
Armaan Franklin. The junior transfer from Indiana, shot 7 of 12, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range, en route to his 21 points. Franklin matched a career high with his five 3-pointers. He accomplished the feat three times for the Hoosiers.
FROM TONY BENNETT
Comparing tonight’s performance to Tuesday night’s loss to Navy:
“I think the second half against Navy, our effort level defensively was where it needed to be, with still some lapses. And I thought tonight at the start, offensively, our effort level was where it needed to be. Again, we had lapses, there’s things that happen, but we had a little bit better balance of looking inside, letting the offense work a little bit and then getting different kinds of shots. It always helps when some threes go in, but there were good stretches and so I thought it was a better first half. Then we gave up some offensive rebounds in the second half and I know what’s coming next game. But they answered the challenge that we put before him, so that was good stuff.”
GAME NOTES
• UVA is 7-0 all-time vs. Radford
• UVA has won 26 of its last 30 games against teams from Virginia
• UVA is 137-10 when scoring at least 70 under Tony Bennett
• Reece Beekman had four steals to increase his season total to 10
• Igor Miličić Jr. made his UVA debut
UP NEXT
Virginia travels to Houston on Tuesday, Nov. 16. Tipoff at Fertitta Center is set for 8 p.m. on ESPN.