Rapid Recap: Hoos bounce back with big 76-53 win over ECU

Virginia didn’t have to wait long to get of rid the sour taste of defeat as the Hoos handled ECU 76-53 on Tuesday night. Kyle Guy led the way with 13 points and three other players - London Perrantes, Marial Shayok, and Mamadi Diakite - all had 12 points apiece. Both Isaiah Wilkins and Jarred Reuter had five rebounds each for Virginia. The Hoos were hot from the field as they made 30 of 53 attempts (56.6%), including going 9-for-21 (42.9%) from three. After struggling with ball handling against West Virginia (14 turnovers), Virginia turned the ball over just six times in the game.

ECU got off to a hot start, making their first four shots of the game - all three pointers - before finally missing from deep. For a team that averaged 36% from beyond the arc, they overshot their abilities in the early going, but failed to make another three in the first half after their initial flurry. The Pirates finished 10-for-23 (43.5%) from three for the game.

Virginia, after trailing 12-9, rattled off a 31-8 run over the last 14 minutes of the first half to enter halftime with a 42-20 lead. After struggling to make buckets in their loss to West Virginia, the Hoos were hot, shooting 57.7% from the field and 50% (8-for-16) from three. Perrantes led the way with 10 points in the first half, and Virginia got scoring from just about everyone as Guy (nine), Diakite (eight), and Jack Salt (five) all had a strong first 20 minutes.

Guy went 3-for-4 in the first half - all from three - as he did just about whatever he wanted. He finished with 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting to go with four assists and one steal in 21 minutes. Isaiah Wilkins didn’t have any first half points, but was solid defensively with five rebounds, three steals, and a block to go with three assists on the offensive end. Reuter had a very good game with 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting with one assist, one steal, and no turnovers.

ECU’s Jeremy Shepperd led the Pirates with 17 points as the visitors went 18-for-49 from the field. The Hoos were disruptive, causing 13 turnovers, six of which were steals. ECU struggled to get many good looks against the Hoos, and their defense was picked apart by Virginia, who started the game with 18 assists on 18 made baskets. The Hoos finished with 22 assists on 30 field goals, led by Darius Thompson with six assists and Perrantes with five.

Virginia now has 11 days off for the exam break, and the Hoos will resume non-conference play with Robert Morris at home on December 17. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30pm on ESPNU.