No. 9 Virginia transformed a disastrous opening sequence into a commanding 97-72 victory over Northeastern on Friday night, powered by a balanced offensive surge from Sam Lewis and Chance Mallory. The Cavaliers entered the contest with a 10-for-10 shooting slump, going 2-for-10 from the field and 0-for-7 from deep in the first eight minutes while committing four turnovers. However, Lewis and Mallory each finished with 20 points, anchoring a second-half explosion that allowed the team to rest its starters with six minutes remaining.
Cavaliers shake off 0-for-7 start to secure dominant win ahead of Arkansas clash
The turning point arrived late in the first half when Mallory’s layup secured Virginia’s first lead with 8:23 remaining. From that moment, the Cavaliers outscored the Huskies 22-11 to close the half, taking a 38-31 lead despite the teams combining for 18 first-half turnovers. Thijis De Ridder contributed 16 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Johann Grunloh added 13 points on an injured right ankle. Northeastern’s Rashad King (26 points) and Louis Bond (23 points) kept the Huskies competitive early, but their 19 total turnovers proved fatal against Virginia’s defensive pressure.
This win extends Virginia’s record to 2-0 and provides crucial confidence ahead of a high-stakes matchup against No. 12 Arkansas on Sunday. The ability to bench the core rotation for the final six minutes is a significant strategic advantage, as the Cavaliers rely heavily on their four retained key players for the bulk of their scoring. By managing minutes effectively after overcoming a slow start, Virginia demonstrated the depth and resilience required to sustain a deep tournament run.
Source: Yahoo Sports
