CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Malcolm Brogdon talked before Virginia’s final home game about making it a success for seniors Joe Harris, Akil Mitchell and even former walk-on Thomas Rogers, the first building blocks in Tony Bennett’s remaking of the No. 12 Cavaliers.
On Saturday, Brogdon made sure his teammates left happy. He scored 17 of his career-high 19 points in the second half, including eight in a decisive run that sent Virginia on its way to a 75-56 victory against No. 4 Syracuse.
The victory was the 13th in a row for the Cavaliers, and secured their first outright ACC regular-season championship in 33 years.
“Super exciting,” the redshirt sophomore said of watching the final seconds tick off the clock with students poised to charge the court despite pleas to stay put from the public address announcer. “You could do nothing but smile at that point when you beat a good team like that and you’re having success like we’re having. It’s surreal when you think about it.”
The last Virginia team to win the ACC outright had sophomore Ralph Sampson in the middle. This one has no players of that stature, but a handful all capable of taking over games with either a critical offensive play, or a defensive stop.
Mitchell added 12 points and nine rebounds, and Mike Tobey and Justin Anderson scored 11 apiece for the Cavaliers (25-5, 16-1 ACC), who won their 13th in a row overall, and their 18th straight at home against ACC competition. Syracuse was only the second ranked team beaten in that home streak, but as has so often been the case this year, it wasn’t close at the end.
“I knew this was a big game going in and I have been playing not up to what I feel like I could play up to, so I just came into this game with an aggressive mentality,” the 6-foot-11 Tobey said.
Tyler Ennis and C.J. Fair each scored 13 for the Orange (26-3, 13-3), who lost for the third time in four games. Syracuse played much of the game without ailing Jerami Grant because of a sore back, but coach Jim Boeheim said it was no excuse.
“They got going in the second half,” Boeheim said. “I have thought that for a couple weeks, that they have been by far the best team.”