Clemson Falls To Cavaliers, 81-79

Jan. 22, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) – Devin Smith scored 22 points and Virginia got its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory after five lop-sided losses this season, beating Clemson 81-79 Saturday night.

Elton Brown added 16 points while Sean Singletary added 15 points and seven assists for the Cavaliers (10-6, 1-5 ACC), who snapped a four-game losing streak overall.

Clemson (10-8, 1-5) had a chance to win it, but Sharrod Ford missed a 3-point shot at the buzzer. It would have been the Tigers’ 14th 3-pointer of the game.

Virginia led for much of the second half but could never pull away from the Tigers, who shot 30 times from behind the arc and made enough to stay in striking distance.

Virginia’s J.R. Reynolds went to the line with 13.3 seconds remaining and a chance to ice the game, but he missed the front end of a one-and-one. Clemson got the rebound, but couldn’t make the necessary shot to tie or win in the frantic finals seconds.

The Tigers were paced by Olu Babalola’s career-high 22 points. They also got 15 Cheyenne Moore and 13 from Ford, the only starter not to make a 3-pointer.

Virginia led 41-36 at halftime as Singletary and Smith each scored 12. Neither team defended well in the opening 20 minutes. Virginia shot 51 percent and Clemson shot 50 percent, including 7 of 12 effort from behind the arc.