From Staff Reports

Virginia bombed the nets from the 3-point arc in the first half and then coasted to an 84-60 win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Tuesday night, as the No. 24 ranked Cavaliers improved to 9-1 on the season.

“They were scorching hot early,” Hawks coach Cleo Hill Jr. said of UVA. “We tried to close out as best we could, but they were really hot. They got some really good looks, even with defensive pressure.”

Virginia made 11 triples in the first half and finished 13 for 31 from the arc. Seven different Cavaliers made at least one 3-pointer in the game, including Jacari White, fresh off breaking Kyle Guy’s program record for consecutive triples. White had made 12 in a row over the previous three games, including 7 of 7 against Dayton last Saturday in Charlotte.

White missed his first 3-point attempt Tuesday night, going 1 for 5 for the game.

The Cavaliers, coming off impressive wins at Texas and a neutral-court triumph over Dayton last week, went on a 23-3 run in the first half to take control and never looked back.

Sam Lewis led the way with 15 points, while Thijs De Ridder added 13 and Chance Mallory 10 (with six steals).

Plagued by early foul trouble, De Ridder came back with a fury in the second half. He hit a 3-pointer and scored on three drives to the basket and added a free throw to spark a 29-10 UVA run.

“We ran a couple of plays, but he did some of it on his own, too, with space to work with,” Coach Ryan Odom said. “He got to the basket in a very aggressive way.”

Johann Grünloh, one of UVA’s seven-footers, enjoyed watching his fellow European frontcourt mate go to work.

“I love it. Sometimes you just have to go to Thijs and hit him a little bit to get him going,” Grünloh said. “But when he gets his head into the game, I think he’s unstoppable.”

Virginia now enters an 11-day exam break and returns to action on Dec. 20 in a home game vs. Maryland, now coached by Buzz Williams.