COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA MEN’S TOURNAMENT : EAST REGIONAL : Virginia Intensifies Effort to Defeat Massachusetts

Massachusetts wasn’t ready for Virginia, and the Cavaliers weren’t about to wait around.

Virginia used a smothering man-to-man defense to build a 17-point lead and then withstood Massachusetts’ second-half charge for a 71-56 victory Sunday in the second round of the NCAA East Regional.

“We wanted to establish our aggressiveness right off the bat, and more than anything that was the difference in the game,” said Virginia Coach Jeff Jones.

Massachusetts Coach John Calipari said his Minutemen were sluggish at the start.

“There was no fire, no passion, no enthusiasm,” he said. “All they did to score was run the floor. We jogged.”

Virginia center Ted Jeffries said the key was the Cavaliers’ tenacious defense.

“They couldn’t get anything going,” he said. “I think they were more frustrated than not coming to play.”

Third-seeded Massachusetts (24-7) pecked away at a 36-19 halftime deficit and cut it to 46-43 before the Cavaliers (21-9) pulled away to earn their first appearance in the round of 16 since 1989. They will play Cincinnati, a 92-55 winner over New Mexico State.

Cory Alexander scored 17 points for Virginia, which made 58% of its shots during the first half.

Massachusetts, made only three of 30 shots during the first half, among them three air balls during the first 3 1/2 minutes.