CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Defending national champion Virginia is still unbeaten, but now has a significant loss to contend with.
Braxton Key, a starting guard and perhaps the Cavaliers’ most versatile player, watched from the bench with a sling on his surgically repaired wrist on Wednesday as Virginia (7-0) put up a record-tying defensive performance in a 46-26 victory over Maine.
The Black Bears matched the fewest points scored by a Cavaliers opponent under Bennett, and the fewest in the shot-clock era (since 1985-86).
“If ever there was a team that has to be hungry to defend no matter how hard it is, … it’s us,” Bennett said.
Especially now with Key, the team’s No. 2 scorer and top rebounder, sidelined with no timetable for his return.
Key was injured in the final minutes of Virginia’s 48-45 victory over Arizona State in the Air Force Reserve Tip-off championship game when he drove to the basket and came down on his hand. Bennett had no information on whether Key broke any bones.
“Obviously that’s a tough blow because he brings some heart and effort on the glass and energy defensively,” Bennett said.
Mamadi Diakite scored 15 points and Jay Huff had 13 to lead the Cavaliers, who were also without starting guard Kody Stattmann, who missed his fourth consecutive game with an undisclosed illness. The Cavaliers also struggled offensively, making just 17 of 44 shots (38.6 percent).
Maine (2-4) kept it close for much of the game, more because Virginia had trouble scoring than anything else.
Vilgot Larsson led the Black Bears with nine points. They finished 8 for 43 from the field (18.6 percent) and had 21 turnovers. Their 26 points tied Rutgers for the fewest scored against the Cavaliers under Bennett. Virginia beat Rutgers 45-26 on Nov. 29, 2014.
Nonetheless, Maine Coach Richard Barron could not find fault with his team’s effort.
“They battled. They just battled,” he said, “and we just couldn’t make shots.”
Virginia held Maine scoreless for nearly six minutes and used a 9-0 run to open a 24-10 lead late in the first half. It was 24-14 at the break, and eight consecutive points early in the second half opened the margin to 35-19 as Bennett went deeper into his bench seeking combinations the Cavaliers will need going forward.
The Cavaliers have now held six of seven opponents this season under 50 points.
• Barron was choked up, having spent time a few moments with former Virginia coach Terry Holland and his wife after the game.
“Big mentor to me,” he said. “Just hugging their necks and talking to them was a special moment for me.”
Barron said his family got to know Holland when his father and Holland both worked at Davidson.
In 1984, Barron came to a Virginia basketball camp, contracted mononucleosis and “spent the week on the Hollands’ couch.”
Barron later worked at the Virginia camp for the duration of Holland’s career, then for Jeff Jones, and then one year with Pete Gillen.
(3) MICHIGAN STATE 75, UCLA 62: Cassius Winston scored 20 points, Xavier Tillman had 14 and the Spartans (5-2) topped the Bruins (5-3) in the Maui Invitational fifth-place game at Lahaina, Hawaii.
The Spartans opened the tournament with a loss to Virginia Tech, but bounced back with consecutive solid performances.
Winston had a second straight strong performance after struggling in the opener and Michigan State used an 18-2 advantage in fast break points to close its Maui trip with a flourish.
(4) KANSAS 90, DAYTON 84: Devon Dotson scored 31 points, Udoka Azubuike had seven of his 29 in overtime and the Jayhawks (6-1) topped the Flyers (5-1) to win their third Maui Invitational title at Lahaina, Hawaii.
Kansas used a late 11-0 run to go up by three, but Dayton’s Jalen Crutcher buried a 3-pointer from about 5 feet behind the new arc with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 73.
The Jayhawks went to Azubuike early in the overtime and the 7-footer delivered, scoring three baskets at the rim. He also hit three from the line in overtime.
Marcus Garrett made three free throws in the final 18 seconds to seal Kansas’ second Maui title in four years.
Ryan Mikesell led Dayton with 19 points but missed two free throws with 11.5 seconds left and the Flyers down five. Obi Toppin added 18 points.
(6) NORTH CAROLINA 76, ALABAMA 67: Garrison Brooks scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half and the Tar Heels (5-0) overwhelmed the Crimson Tide (2-3) Alabama on the glass to win in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis at Paradise Island, Bahamas.
Freshman big man Armando Bacot had 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Tar Heels, who entered the game as the nation’s No. 1 team in rebounding margin. They certainly won’t hurt that average with this performance: The Tar Heels nearly doubled the Crimson Tide to finish with a 60-31 edge on the glass, including pulling down 23 offensive rebounds that led to 23 second-chance points.
The Tar Heels didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, finishing at roughly 40.8 percent. And freshman point guard Cole Anthony didn’t have a huge offensive game. He finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists – including a perfect alley-oop inbounds pass that Brooks hammered down with 3:23 left as the Tar Heels remained in control down the stretch.
John Petty Jr. scored 23 points with seven 3-pointers for the Crimson Tide, though 15 points and five of those 3s came in the first half. Preseason all-Southeastern Conference pick Kira Lewis Jr. added 20 points, but Alabama shot just 38 percent for the game.
Leaky Black finished with career highs of nine points and nine rebounds for the Tar Heels, who also got 12 points from senior Brandon Robinson in his season debut. Robinson had been sidelined since he sprained an ankle during an exhibition game.
(8) GONZAGA 94, SOUTHERN MISS 69: Corey Kispert broke loose from a brutal three-game shooting funk to match his career high with 28 points and hit seven 3-pointers as the Bulldogs (7-0) beat the Golden Eagles (2-4) in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis at Paradies Island Bahamas.
Joel Ayayi added 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who had no trouble against a team picked to finish last in Conference USA.
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