Senior forward Mike Scott shook off a one-for-five shooting start for a game-high 18 points and seven rebounds, and the Virginia defense smothered offensively challenged Georgia Tech to demolish the Yellow Jackets 70-38 in Atlanta, Ga. last night.
Senior guard Sammy Zeglinski and junior guard Jontel Evans bounced back from scoreless performances last Thursday at Duke to help Virginia shoot 70.6 percent from the floor through the first 12 minutes of the contest.
Zeglinski finished with 10 points and Evans added six early points, five assists and five rebounds. Virginia's two main ball-handlers combined with sophomore guard Joe Harris for a collective 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting during that telling opening stretch.
Harris finished with 16 points and even senior forward Assane Sene drained an unlikely mid-range jumper to sustain Virginia's offense until Scott caught fire to end the first half. The only blemish for Virginia occurred when Sene suffered an ugly ankle injury with 23.7 seconds left before halftime. He returned to the bench during the second half on crutches with the injured ankle heavily wrapped in ice.
The No. 15 Cavaliers (15-2, 2-1 ACC) led 35-17 at halftime and held Georgia Tech (8-10, 1-3 ACC) to just 29.2 percent shooting for the game.
Virginia played like the team boasting the second-best scoring defense in the country. The Cavaliers have now held 15 of their 17 opponents under 60 points this season and seven of those under 50 points.
Scott, named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 list Jan. 17, has led Virginia in scoring in 12 of its 17 games this season.
The Cavaliers next play Virginia Tech for in-state ACC bragging rights Sunday at 6 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.
-compiled by Matt Welsh
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