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COLUMBUS, Ohio—The University of Virginia became the fourth Atlantic Coast Conference team to advance to the second round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament with a 84-57 victory over the Alban Great Danes.
“We definitely got a good win today,” said Virginia guard Sean Singletary. “We struggled a little bit toward the end of the regular season, but now it is the tournament. It is a whole different season. It was good to start out the way we did today.”
The game was all Virginia from the beginning for two reasons: The difference in levels of play and the difference in levels of talent.
The Cavaliers just flat-out played better than Albany, and it showed. Virginia out-shot Albany from the field, three-point line and free-throw line; the Wahoos out-rebounded the Great Danes as well.
Furthermore, Virginia had better talent than the Great Danes. Head coach Dave Leitao’s team appeared more physical and to be in possession of more finesse.
Second team all-ACC guard played more like a first-teamer in the first round. The Roanoke native scored 23 first-half points and finished with a game-high 28 in addition to his five rebounds.
“We got in the groove of things and got the game going,” said Reynolds. “We played great defense, which makes the offense come easy.”
Reynolds actually managed to outscore the Great Danes for the better part of the first half, and only trailed the entire Albany team two at the halftime intermission, 25-23.
Reynolds’ backcourt mate Singletary also contributed significantly to the Cavalier offense. The first team all-ACC selection scored 21 points and added nine assists.
“He distributes and creates,” said Albany guard John Iati. “He’s the heart and soul of that team. He gets Reynolds shots, he gets the big guys layups. He’s what makes that offense go.”
Attempting to compete with Reynolds and Singletary in terms of offensive production was Albany’s Jamar Wilson. The senior guard scored 25 points of his own, which just weren’t enough for the Great Danes.
The Cavaliers will take on either Tennessee or Long Beach State Sunday afternoon. Tip-off from Nationwide Arena is slated for 12:10 p.m. Sunday.
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