Jacari White scored a game-high 25 points Saturday and tied Virginia’s school record for most consecutive made 3-pointers during an 86-73 win over Dayton in Charlotte, N.C.
The North Dakota State transfer sank all nine shots he attempted, including seven 3-pointers. The last of those, which gave the Cavaliers a 77-67 advantage, was his 11th straight without a miss, tying Kyle Guy for the school record.
Freshman guard Chance Mallory added 12 points for Virginia, going 9 for 10 at the foul line, and also dished out five assists. The Cavaliers (8-1) connected on 27 of 45 shots from the field and sank 12 of 20 from the 3-point line.
Javon Bennett scored 18 points for the Flyers (7-3) but made just 8 of 22 attempts from the field.
De’Shayne Montgomery added 12 points and Jordan Derkack hit for 10, going 8 of 10 at the line. But Dayton sank only 25 of 64 attempts from the field and 7 of 23 from 3-point range.
White scored 11 consecutive points in the second half, capping his run with a 3-pointer that gave Virginia a 60-41 advantage with 12:49 left. The Flyers pulled within seven before White’s final 3-pointer sealed the outcome.
Neither team could find firm footing offensively for much of the first half. Dayton struggled to make shots and Virginia hurt its chances to gain rhythm because it couldn’t quit turning the ball over. The Cavaliers committed 12 turnovers in 35 first-half possessions.
The Flyers owned a 15-10 advantage at the 11:33 mark following a Keonte Jones free throw. But Virginia gradually whittled away at the deficit and took the lead for good when Ugonna Onyenso made a pair of free throws with 6:06 left to make it 22-20.
Mallory upped the margin to 32-24 when he sank a 3-pointer with 2:21 remaining. The Cavaliers settled for a 37-33 edge at halftime after Dayton’s Jaiun Simon converted a layup with three seconds on the clock.
Virginia offset its turnover troubles by connecting on 54.5% from the field and earning an 18-12 rebounding advantage.
