CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Once again, the Virginia Cavaliers (14-12, 7-8 ACC) gave an embarrassing effort while on the road. No.15 North Carolina (20-6, 11-4) was the latest ACC team to take advantage of Virginia's road woes as the Tar Heels cruised to a 99-54 victory last night. The 45-point margin is the largest margin of victory in the 167-game series that dates back to the 1910-11 season. North Carolina's first-half total of 49 points was almost enough for Roy Williams' team to secure the win.
"It got away before the jump ball," Virginia coach Dave Leitao said. "We were not prepared -- physically, mentally, team-wise -- we were not prepared."
In this game, unlike in Virginia's previous two road losses, the Cavaliers did hold a lead at one point. Virginia played with energy in the game's opening minutes and was able to maintain a 7-4 advantage. At that point, however, the Tar Heels went on a 10-0 run to take a lead they would not surrender. Leitao called a time out after North Carolina point guard Bobby Frazor's three-point shot made the score 14-7. After the timeout, J.R. Reynolds made a lay-up for Virginia's first points in nearly two minutes. David Noel would quickly answer with 12 consecutive points to get the Tar Heels started again. Noel had 19 of his game-high 26 points in the first half. By contrast, Virginia's leading scorer, Reynolds, had 19 points in the entire game.
Later in the first half, North Carolina would go on a 12-0 run to extend its lead to 43-19. The second run included two three-point buckets, one by guard Marcus Ginyard and the other by Noel. In the game, North Carolina was 11-20 from beyond the three-point arc, while Virginia was a dismal 4-24.
"It's not just shooting," Reynolds said of the low three-point percentage. "Off the ball, we weren't rotating. We weren't getting our shots."
The second half was no better for the Cavaliers as North Carolina twice doubled up Virginia's score with leads of 65-32 and 72-36 at times in the second half.
"We fell apart," Leitao said of his team's defense. "Everything that was done is not there right now. We have to get back in the gym and correct it."
The score was not the only evidence of North Carolina's dominance. The Tar Heels out-rebounded the Cavaliers by a margin of 45-28. North Carolina also had more defensive rebounds (33) than Virginia had total rebounds. Tar Heel freshman Tyler Hansbrough had a game-high eight rebounds, while no Cavalier player had more than four rebounds.
"They are a thousand times better," Leitao said of how much North Carolina has improved since the team last met Jan. 19. "The stats prove it. Obviously, their play proves it as well."
The contest was the final road game of the year for the Cavaliers. Virginia was only able to record two wins on the road all year and only one against a conference opponent. The Cavaliers have also suffered their worst losses of the year on the road. Virginia has a losing conference record for the first time this year since the team was 1-2 following a Jan. 11 loss to Florida State.
"We haven't gotten comfortable on the road all year," Virginia guard Sean Singletary said. "Every road game it has been the same case."
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