Overview
- Thijs De Ridder led Virginia with 20 points in an 81-62 win over North Carolina Central in Charlottesville, and the Cavaliers never trailed.
- Under first-year coach Ryan Odom, Virginia is leaning into a faster tempo with pressure defense and more 3-point attempts than in recent seasons.
- Virginia shot 38.9% from deep (14 of 36) and recorded 22 assists on 28 made field goals, sustaining offensive flow throughout.
- The Cavaliers dominated on the glass 48-34 and outscored the Eagles’ bench 32-7, reinforcing early depth and physical advantages.
- Johan Grunloh grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked seven shots, while NCCU fell to 0-2 with Gage Lattimore leading the Eagles and Khouri Carvey posting a double-double.