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Virginia bests LSU in low-scoring affair

Jan 3, 2012 - 7:16 AM Baton Rouge, LA (Sports Network) - Sammy Zeglinski made four three-pointers and scored 17 points, leading No. 21 Virginia to its best start in 29 years as the Cavaliers held on to defeat LSU, 57-52, on Monday.

Joe Harris netted 14 points and Mike Scott added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers (13-1), who are off to their best start since Ralph Sampson led the 1982-83 squad to an 18-1 start. Virginia has won 11 consecutive games.

"Down the stretch most of the guys made big plays," Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said. "We knew it was going to be a grinder and we embraced that and fought it out to the last possession."

Justin Hamilton scored 21 points, snatched nine rebounds and swatted four shots for LSU (10-4), which has held its last eight opponents to under 60 points. The Tigers had their seven-game winning streak snapped.

With Virginia holding a slim one-point advantage, 51-50, with 1 1/2 minutes to go in the game, Zeglinski found a wide-open Harris on the right wing and he nailed a three-pointer to give Virginia a four-point cushion.

Hamilton's right-elbow jumper cut the deficit to two with 55 seconds remaining.

Harris was blocked by Hamilton on Virginia's ensuing possession, but Assane Sene stripped Hamilton from behind to regain possession for the Cavaliers with 18 seconds left.

Zeglinski hit 1-of-2 from the line to keep it a one-possession game, 55-52.

Ralston Turner had an open look to tie it with 11 seconds remaining, but his three-pointer rattled in and out. Scott corralled the miss for Virginia and knocked down both free throws to seal the win.

"Not to take anything away from Virginia, but we had way too many breaks defensively down the stretch," said LSU head coach Trent Johnson.

It was a back-and-forth tussle in the opening stanza with the Cavaliers holding the largest margin of seven, 13-6, eight minutes in.

Hamilton led all scorers with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the first half as the contest was deadlocked, 26-26, heading into the break.

Game Notes

Virginia leads the all-time series 3-0...These two teams last met in the 1981 NCAA Final Four consolation game. The Cavaliers won, 78-74...The 1982-83 Cavaliers finished the year 28-4 and were ousted by North Carolina State, 63-62, in the West Regional Final of the NCAA Tournament...LSU finished 21- of-48 from the field, while Virginia connected on 21-of-47 from the field.