UNCASVILLE, Conn. – No.4 Virginia made 15 shots from 3-point range and tallied 89 points in a comfortable win over Towson in the season opener for both teams at the Mohegan Sun “Bubbleville” on Wednesday afternoon.
The Cavaliers (1-0) dominated the game after the halftime break en route to an 89-54 win. It was the highest scoring display from Virginia in a regular season opener since a 107-97 victory against Virginia Military Institute to start the 2008-09 season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMC5wnWB9AE
Virginia, the 2019 NCAA National champions, connected on 15 of its 29 attempts from beyond the arc, with Trey Murphy III knocking down six of them off the bench.
In a well balanced performance, Tony Bennett’s side led 42-19 at halftime before blew the game open midway in the second half to setup the season opening victory.
Murphy III made 7 of his 9 total shots from the field to lead the way for the Cavaliers with 21 points, while grabbing three rebounds in the process.
Also scoring in double-digits were Sam Hauser and Jay Huff.
Hauser ended the day with 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists on 7 of 9 shooting, including 3 from 3 from long range.
Huff added 14 points, four rebounds and three blocks, as Virginia completed the game shooting 55.6 percent from the floor and shot 51.7 from three-pointers.
The Cavaliers, who had a 73-42 win at John Paul Jones Arena to open the 2018-19 season, have now improved to 7-0 against the Tigers.
Nicolas Timberlake was the only Towson player to reach double figures in scoring, finishing with a team-high 19 points and made five 3-pointers.
The all-time series between these Virginia and the Tigers dates back to 1985-86, while Cavaliers head coach Bennett improves his run against today’s opponent to 3-0 all-time.
Towson was a late replacement in the tournament after Maine was forced to withdraw from the game Tuesday. Maine needed to pause all its winter sports due of COVID-19 cases at the school and in its athletic department.
Virginia will return to the court on Friday against San Francisco, which was a late entry into the Bubbleville. tipoff at Mohegan Sun Arena is slated for 11:30 am on ESPN and WatchESPN.com.
Towson, meanwhile, is set for back-to-back action on the court, as the team will take also face San Francisco in its season opener on Thursday.
