CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Interstat) — Virginia defeated Maryland 80-72 in a men’s basketball game Saturday at John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers improved to 10-1 while the Terrapins fell to 5-6. Virginia built a 24-19 halftime lead before both offenses erupted after the break. The Cavaliers shot 45.5% from the field and committed only seven turnovers, aided by 15 steals and 15 assists. Dallin Hall led Virginia with 20 points and six assists. Maryland’s David Coit scored 15 points. Despite a 53-point second half, Maryland could not overcome its 16 turnovers and Virginia’s efficient 116.0 offensive rating. Attendance was 12,671.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a suffocating defensive effort and a decisive second-half surge, the Virginia Cavaliers overcame a sluggish offensive start to defeat the Maryland Terrapins 80-72 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday night at a sold-out John Paul Jones Arena. A crowd of 12,671 watched as Virginia, now 10-1, used a 15-2 run early in the second half to seize control, transforming a narrow 24-19 halftime lead into a comfortable advantage that Maryland could not overcome. The Terrapins fell to 5-6 with the loss. The most critical phase of the game began with Virginia leading 33-31 in the second half. Over the next three minutes, the Cavaliers unleashed a devastating blitz. It started with a Jacari White 3-pointer, assisted by Devin Tillis. After a Maryland turnover, White struck again from beyond the arc, this time fed by Dallin Hall. White then completed a personal 8-0 run with a dunk and a free throw, pushing the lead to 46-33. The sequence, which also included a Ugonna Onyenso hook shot and a Tillis 3-pointer, showcased a Virginia offense that had finally found its rhythm after a frigid first half, and a defense that was generating easy offense. Virginia’s victory was built on a foundation of defensive pressure and offensive efficiency. The Cavaliers forced 16 Maryland turnovers, converting them into 22 points, while committing only seven turnovers themselves. Virginia also tallied 15 steals, led by the backcourt pressure of Hall and Chance Mallory, compared to just two for the Terrapins. The Cavaliers’ offensive rating of 116.0 on 69 possessions outpaced Maryland’s 110.0 on 65 possessions. Hall, a guard from Plain City, Utah, was the catalyst for Virginia, leading all scorers with 20 points. He added six assists and was a central figure in the game-breaking run. White, from Orlando, Florida, provided a massive spark off the bench with 15 points, all in the second half, including three 3-pointers during the pivotal stretch. Tillis contributed 10 points, while Mallory, a local product from Charlottesville, filled the stat sheet with six points, six assists and a game-high four steals. Maryland’s offense, which managed just 19 points on 22.2% shooting in a grinding first half, found life after halftime. The Terrapins scored 53 second-half points, fueled by 12-of-29 shooting from 3-point range for the game. David Coit led the way with 15 points and six assists. Myles Rice added 12 points and four assists, and Elijah Saunders scored 10. However, Maryland’s offense was often disjointed, as evidenced by a season-low two total assists for the game, undermining their perimeter shooting. The first half was a struggle for both teams. Virginia led 24-19 at the break despite shooting 30.3% from the field. Maryland’s offensive woes were even more pronounced, with the Terrapins going nearly nine minutes without a field goal during one stretch. The Cavaliers’ defense set the tone early, holding Maryland scoreless for the first four-and-a-half minutes of the game. Virginia’s interior presence was also a factor, with 7-footers Johann Gruenloh and Ugonna Onyenso combining for 15 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. The Cavaliers won the rebounding battle 42-38, including 14 offensive boards. The win extends Virginia’s strong start to the season, with their only loss coming against Butler last month. Maryland, facing a difficult early-season schedule, has now lost four of its last five games, though all six defeats have come against power-conference opponents. Virginia will look to continue its momentum when it hosts American on Monday. Maryland’s next game is at home against Old Dominion on Dec. 28.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Interstat) — A surging Virginia men’s basketball team will look to continue its dominant start when it hosts a struggling Maryland squad in a nonconference clash Saturday at John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers (9-1) have won five straight since their lone loss to Butler on Nov. 23, including an impressive 88-69 road victory over Texas on Dec. 3. Their signature pack-line defense has been stifling, holding opponents to an average of 68.2 points per game during the win streak. Virginia is led by guard Chance Mallory, who has been a model of efficiency. Over his last five games, Mallory is averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 assists while shooting 50% from the field. He posted 16 points in the win at Texas and followed with 12 points and five assists against Dayton. The Terrapins (5-5) arrive reeling, having lost three of their last four, including a 101-83 home defeat to Michigan on Dec. 13 and an 83-64 loss at Iowa on Dec. 6. Maryland’s defense has faltered, allowing an average of 92.3 points in those three recent losses. Maryland’s hopes will rest heavily on the scoring of guard David Coit. He erupted for 31 points in 38 minutes against Michigan, but his production has been inconsistent. In the two games prior, he was held to 13 and 4 points, respectively. Support from players like Myles Rice (15 points vs. Michigan) and Pharrel Payne will be critical. The matchup pits Virginia’s methodical, defensive-minded system against a Maryland team seeking offensive rhythm and defensive resilience. The Cavaliers have protected their home court, winning all five games in Charlottesville this season by an average margin of 30.2 points. For Maryland, a victory against a high-caliber opponent like Virginia would provide a crucial momentum shift before Big Ten play begins in January. For Virginia, it represents a final major nonconference test to solidify its resume before Atlantic Coast Conference action. Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon. Virginia hosts American on Monday, while Maryland’s next game is Dec. 28 against Old Dominion.