Cavaliers Top Lehigh 61-43 for Bennett’s 300th Career Win at UVA

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (5-2) had nine players score in its 61-43 win over Lehigh (1-5) on Friday night at John Paul jones Arena. The win was head coach Tony Bennett’s 300th career win at Virginia.

Kihei Clark led UVA with 11 points and seven assists. Reece Beekman finished with five rebounds, four assists, four steals and one block. Jayden Gardner, Armaan Franklin, Kadin Shedrick and Francisco Caffaro all scored eight points. Gardner led the team with eight rebounds.

UVA’s defense held Lehigh to 35 percent shooting and just 19 percent beyond the arc. The Cavaliers scored 19 points off 15 turnovers for the Mountain Hawks. UVA is now 105-2 under Bennett when holding opponent to 50 points or less.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia went on an 8-0 run to take a 17-13 lead over Lehigh with 8:20 to play in the first half. The Cavaliers held the Mountain Hawks to just two field goals in the final eight minutes of the first half and Reece Beekman hit a three just before the half to lead 25-21 at the break.

The Cavaliers broke the game open in the second half, pulling away with a 10-4 run to start the second half. UVA took a 59-21 lead with a 16-2 run over a five-minute span and forced five turnovers by Lehigh during the run.

THE GAME BALL GOES TO
Reece Beekman’s 10 points were a season high. The guard excelled across the board with five rebounds, four assists, one block and four steals while just committing one turnover.

UP NEXT
Virginia hosts Iowa in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Monday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.