CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Jayden Gardner scored 26 points and nearly matched Maryland-Eastern Shore's point total in the first half Friday night as No. 5 Virginia beat the Hawks 72-45.
The Cavaliers (5-0) led 40-22 at halftime, with Gardner accounting for 18 of those points and Kadin Shedrick, their other most prominent low-post player adding nine. Shedrick finished with 13 with coach Tony Bennett substituting liberally over the final 10 minutes.
Maryland-Eastern Shore (2-4), of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, actually had a 14-12 run in the middle of the opening half to get within 30-18, but Gardner scored 12 of the Cavaliers last 14 points before the intermission. The Hawks also allowed 24 points in the paint and 14 points off their 10 first-half turnovers. Virginia led 20-4 after 7 1/2 minutes.
Nathaniel Pollard Jr. scored nine and Ahamadou Fofana eight for the Hawks.
STAT SHEETS
Virginia entered the game leading the nation in free throws made per game (22.5) and free throw attempts per game (30.5), fifth in 3-point shooting (46.9%), 11th in assist to turnover ratio (1.72) and 19th in turnovers per game (10.0).
BIG PICTURE
Maryland-Eastern Shore: The Hawks had no answer for Gardner, who led Virginia in scoring last year (15.3 ppg) but came into the game averaging just 7.8 points. He was 9 for 12 in the first half, with all his shots coming from in close, and finished 12 of 15.
Virginia: The Cavaliers probably appreciated a breather after hard-fought wins against No. 7 Baylor and No. 16 Illinois in winning the Continental Tire Main Event tournament in Las Vegas earlier in the week and with a game at Michigan on Tuesday night. The performance vaulted them from No. 16 to their new ranking, marking the first time they've been in the top five since they were No. 4 in the 2021-22 preseason.
UP NEXT
Maryland-Eastern Shore: The Hawks return home to face Lehigh on Wednesday night.
Virginia: plays at Michigan on Tuesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
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