UVA off to a nice start in ACC play (USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Joe
Harris scored 17 points and Virginia used a 22-4 run late in the first
half and stifling defense throughout to beat Florida State for the first
time in eight tries, 56-36 on Saturday.
Akil Mitchell added 13
points for the Cavaliers (12-5, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who led
33-15 at halftime - the fifth time this season they have held an
opponent under 20 first-half points. It was the first time they have
done it in an ACC game since they led Clemson 28-14 on Feb. 10, 1996.
Michael
Snaer scored nine points to lead the Seminoles (10-7, 2-2), who shot 37
percent, missed 14 of 15 3-point attempts and committed 18 turnovers
that Virginia turned into 20 points.
The games was delayed for
several minutes with 3:58 remaining when Terrance Shannon dropped to the
floor after appearing to slam his head into Evan Nolte's hip in a
scramble under the basket. Shannon fell and lay motionless for several
minutes and was placed on a backboard and then a stretcher. There was no
immediate word of the condition of his injury.
Virginia led 11-9
when Jontel Evans scored on a drive with 13:57 left in the half. The
basket sparked a 22-4 run for the Cavaliers, who held Florida State
scoreless for nearly nine minutes in one stretch.
The Seminoles
shot 7-for-22 in the half, while the Cavaliers were 7-for-9 on
3-pointers. Akil Mitchell and Justin Anderson scored six each in the
burst for Virginia. Anderson had a pair of 3-pointers, including one
just moments after blocking a dunk attempt by 7-foot-1, 290-pound
Michael Ojo at the other end.
The Seminoles made a run with six
straight points early in the second half, closing to within 35-21, but
the Cavaliers countered with eight of the next 11 points, rebuilding the
lead to 19 points, and Florida State never got closer than 15 the rest
of the way.