A Late Virginia Spurt Sends the Top-Seeded Sooners to Sidelines
- Share via
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Richard Morgan scored 25 points, including two three-pointers in a late Virginia spurt, as the Cavaliers beat top-seeded Oklahoma, 86-80, in the NCAA Southeast Regional semifinal Thursday night.
Bryant Stith added 28 points as fifth-seeded Virginia, 22-10, dominated the backboards and the free throw line to advance to the regional finals.
Oklahoma, 30-6, became the first No. 1 seed to lose in the tournament. The Sooners were outrebounded, 38-26, including 17-9 on the offensive end, and made only eight free throws to Virginia’s 27.
Morgan, who entered the game with a tournament-leading 33-point average, made two 3-pointers in a 9-0 run that gave the Cavaliers a 78-72 lead with 3:11 remaining.
Oklahoma, behind Stacey King, had taken a 72-69 lead with 5:08 to play following an 8-0 run. King finished with 22 points, although he was frustrated much of the night by Virginia’s sagging defense.
After the Cavaliers went ahead 78-72, Skeeter Henry brought the Sooners within four on a drive in the lane. But John Crotty scored on a back-door layup and Stith made both ends of a one-and-one to give the Cavaliers an 82-74 lead with 1:02 left.
The Sooners got no closer than five after that as Virginia made all four of its free throws.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
