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Virginia stifles Georgia Tech

Jan 20, 2012 - 6:44 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Mike Scott and Joe Harris handled the offensive chores, while Virginia's typical lockdown defense did the rest.

Scott scored 18 points with seven rebounds and Harris chipped in 16 points, as the 15th-ranked Cavaliers routed Georgia Tech, 70-38.

One of the nation's surprises, Virginia (15-2, 2-1 ACC) held the Yellow Jackets to 29 percent shooting and a 1-of-15 effort from long range. The Cavaliers came into the game allowing teams to make only 26.8 percent of their long-distance shots.

"Our defense took hold and we made them earn. Whenever you have a game like that its due to good defense on our part and they were off in terms of their shooting, three pointers and free throws," Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said.

Kammeon Holsey led Georgia Tech (8-10, 1-3) with 12 points and Mfon Udofia chipped in nine points and five rebounds in defeat.

"Our margin of error is very small. So when you get an open shot, we almost have to make every open shot we get," Georgia Tech head coach Brian Gregory surmised.

Virginia started fast and pushed out to a double-digit lead at 21-11 not even 10 minutes in on Akil Mitchell's tip-in off Darion Atkins' miss. Udofia's jumper kept the Yellow Jackets within 10 points at 27-17 with just under 5 1/2 minutes to play, but Georgia Tech was stuck on that total for the rest of the half.

The Yellow Jackets missed all six of their attempts and two foul shots during the stretch run, as Virginia rattled off the half's final eight points. Scott scored the last eight capped by his jumper with one minute to play.

The second half featured more smothering defense from the Cavaliers, who held the Yellow Jackets without a field goal for over seven minutes, seizing a 57-31 lead with a 14-4 stretch capped by Atkins' slam with just over 10 minutes to go.

By that time the rout was on, and Virginia cruised over the final 10 minutes to pick up another conference victory.

Game Notes

Georgia Tech still leads the all-time series, 38-34, but UVA has won the last five meetings...Virginia opponents made just 38.9 percent of their shots coming into the contest...The margin of victory was Virginia's largest in the ACC since a 104-72 waxing of North Carolina State in 1991...The Cavaliers are off to their best start since the 1982-83 season...Virginia gave up 17 first- half points, the seventh time this season an opponent has scored under 20 points in a half.