.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
University of Louisville
23-8, 12-6ACC
Virginia
24-6, 13-5ACC
No. 11 Louisville Falls 68-46 to Virginia in Season Finale
March 05, 2016 | Men's Basketball
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) -- Mike Tobey had 15 points and a career-high 20 rebounds and No. 4 Virginia stifled No. 11 Louisville for the second time this season in a 68-46 victory Saturday night.
The game was the last of the season for Louisville (23-8, 12-6), which has self-imposed a postseason ban for this year for recruiting violations.
Malcolm Brogdon had 17 points and Anthony Gill 15 for the Cavaliers (24-6, 13-5 Atlantic Coast Conference), who began the game hoping No. 17 Duke would beat No. 8 North Carolina, giving Virginia a chance to claim a share of its third consecutive ACC regular-season title.
The Tar Heels prevailed, however, 76-72, and will be the top seed when the tournament opens Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
The game couldn't have started worse for Louisville.
Already manhandled 63-47 by Virginia at Louisville on Jan. 30, the Cardinals missed their first 11 field goal attempts, trailed 13-1 until their first field goal with 10:40 left in the first half and never threatened.
The night, though, was a love fest for the Virginia seniors, who are now within six victories of having the most in a four-year period in program history. The Ralph Sampson-led Virginia teams in 1980-83 won 112 games, and this group has now won 107.
Brogdon, Gill, Tobey, Evan Nolte and walk-on Caid Kirven were honored to thunderous applause before their final game at John Paul Jones Arena, and coach Tony Bennett pulled the scholarship players with about a minute to go, to more raucous applause. It grew only louder when Kirven, who had just one field goal in 10 prior appearances this season, promptly threw in his first 3-pointer of the season.
Nolte, given a rare start because it was senior night, hit a pair of 3-pointers in the opening minutes as Virginia led 10-0.
TIP-INS
Louisville: In its first three halves against Virginia this year, Louisville totaled 64 points, or 12 fewer than their 76-point average for all games.
Virginia: Nolte's two 3-pointers marked his first game with multiple 3s this season. ... Tobey had 18 rebounds in all of February.
UP NEXT
Virginia will play Thursday in the ACC tournament quarterfinals in Washington, D.C
