Gardner Scores 29 as Virginia Runs Past Fairleigh Dickinson 82-49
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Jayden Gardner scored a season-high 29 points on 14-of-18 shooting to lead Virginia (7-4) to an 82-49 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson (0-10) on Saturday (Dec. 18) at John Paul Jones Arena. With the win, UVA improved to 5-2 on the season at home.
Armaan Franklin added 12 points, his sixth double-digit scoring effort of the season. A total of nine different Cavaliers found the scoring column in the contest.
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The 33-point victory was Virginia’s largest of the season and its 82 points scored were also a season high for the Cavaliers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia did not trail in the contest and closed out the first half with a 12-2 run, opening up a 34-19 advantage at the break. It marked the third time this season UVA has held an opponent to 20 or less points in the first half.
The momentum carried over the second stanza as UVA scored the first 10 points of the half, seven of which came at the hands of Gardner. Franklin closed out the 22-4 run with Virginia’s first 3-pointer of the contest with 17:16 remaining in the game.
Virginia heated up from downtown in the second half, converting 9-of-13 from beyond the arc. The Cavaliers outscored the Knights 48-30 in the second half. The 48 points were the most in any half by Virginia this season.
Igor Miličić Jr. and Carson McCorkle each had nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from distance. The nine points for McCorkle were a season high.
THE GAME BALL GOES TO:
Jayden Gardner. Gardner set the tone early, making his first five shots from the field. He was 14-of-18 from the floor, added six rebounds, a steal and a block. His 29 points were the most by a Cavalier this season.
UP NEXT
Virginia returns to ACC action against Clemson (7-4, 0-1 ACC) on Wednesday, Dec. 22. Tipoff at John Paul Jones Arena is set for 8 p.m. on ACC Network.