CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Malcolm Brogdon scored 18 points, Joe Harris had 12 and streaking Virginia closed the first half on a 21-6 run and cruised to its fourth straight victory against Virginia Tech, 65-45, on Saturday.
The Cavaliers (15-5, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) matched their best start in conference play in 31 years. In all six of their ACC victories, they have led by at least 20 points in the second half.
Devin Wilson scored 12 to lead the Hokies (8-11, 1-6), who lost their sixth in a row. The Hokies again played without Adam Smith, their No. 3 scorer (11 ppg), who is out with a strained left calf.
Virginia Tech scored seven of the first nine points after halftime to get within 36-24, but Virginia responded by pushing its lead as high as 23 and coach Tony Bennett substituted liberally at the finish.
Virginia led 13-11 when its defense really started to bother the Hokies.
After Ben Emelogu’s 3-pointer with 14:32 left in the half, Virginia Tech didn’t get another point for 8:20 and didn’t get another field goal for 10:12, when Emelogu connected again from deep. The Cavaliers didn’t exactly take advantage, scoring just eight points during the scoreless drought, to lead just 21-11.
Once Devin Wilson finally broke through with a free throw for the Hokies, Brogdon made one of his four 3-pointers, and Virginia outscored the Hokies 13-6 over the last six minutes of the half.
Virginia Tech finished with just 14 field goals on 42 attempts, or 33 percent, including a 3 for 18 showing from 3-point range. Season scoring leader Jarell Eddie had seven points on 2-of-10 shooting.
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