The Shadow
RALEIGH, NC. (VR) – Virginia built a commanding first-half lead and never looked back in a 76-62 ACC road win over NC State on Saturday night at Lenovo Center.
The Cavaliers jumped out early behind a hot shooting start and led 40-20 at halftime after shooting 50 percent from the floor and knocking down eight 3-pointers. UVA finished the night 26 of 52 shooting (50 percent) and improved to 7-0 this season when shooting 50 percent or better.
Virginia, now 12-2 overall and 1-1 in the ACC, earned head coach Ryan Odom his first conference win at UVA. The Cavaliers went 13 of 33 from beyond the arc and attempted 30 or more 3-pointers for the sixth time this season, continuing a trend that has seen UVA hit 11 or more 3s in eight games.
Sam Lewis powered the Cavaliers with a career-high-tying 23 points, scoring 20 of them in the first half. Lewis set the tone early, scoring UVA’s first six points and 12 of the team’s first 15, while drilling a career-best five 3-pointers.
NC State opened the second half with an 11-0 run as part of a 15-4 spurt to trim the deficit, but Virginia responded with an 8-0 run of its own to push the lead back to 66-44 and regain full control.
Thijs De Ridder added 14 points, Malik Thomas finished with 13 points and a season-high seven rebounds, and Devin Tillis chipped in 10 points to give Virginia four players in double figures. UVA won the rebounding battle 36-24 and also shot 50 percent in the second half.
Johann Grünloh recorded two blocks, giving him 10 multi-block games this season. Virginia used the same starting lineup of Dallin Hall, De Ridder, Grünloh, Thomas and Lewis for the 13th time. Jacari White missed his third straight game with a wrist injury.
The win marked Virginia’s second straight over NC State and its most points scored against the Wolfpack since a 76-56 victory in March of 2019.
