Cavaliers’ small lineup muscles past big, low-scoring Tar Heels

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Kyle Guy scored 17 points, London Perrantes had 13 and No. 23 Virginia used a small lineup to neutralize No. 5 North Carolina’s size in a 53-43 victory Monday night.

Guy connected on five 3-pointers for Virginia (20-9, 10-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) and Perrantes hit three, continuing to emerge from a shooting slump that contributed greatly to a four-game skid for the Cavaliers.

Joel Berry II scored 12 points to lead the Tar Heels (25-6, 13-4), who snapped a four-game winning streak. ACC player of the year contender Justin Jackson, who arrived averaging 19.9 points in league play, was guarded most of the night by Perrantes and scored just seven points and missed seven of his 10 shots.

The Cavaliers opened a 33-23 lead early in the second half, then saw North Carolina scored the next six points to pull to 33-29. But Devon Hall hit a pair of free throws and Guy followed two Tar Heels misses with a 3-pointer. After the Tar Heels trailed 40-39 with 9:26 left, Perrantes made back-to-back 3s for Virginia, rousing the crowd at John Paul Jones Arena COLLEGE BASKETBALL to deafening levels. When Jack Salt added a putback that lingered on the rim, then dropped, the outcome seemed certain.

North Carolina, averaging 86.2 points, scored just four points in the game’s last 9:26.

■ No. 1 Kansas 73, Oklahoma 63 — At Lawrence, Kan., Frank Mason III scored 23 points in his final game at Allen Fieldhouse, Devonte Graham hit a series of crucial 3-pointers in the second half and Kansas (27-3, 15-2 Big 12) rallied from a 10-point deficit to beat Oklahoma (10-19, 4-13).

■ No. 11 Baylor 71, No. 10 West Virginia 62 — At Waco, Texas, Johnathan Motley scored 19 of his 23 points after halftime and Baylor (24-6, 11-6 Big 12) won its home finale over West Virginia (23-7, 11-6). The Bears avenged a 21-point loss to the Mountaineers on Jan. 10.

■ Virginia Tech 66, No. 25 Miami 61 — At Blacksburg, Va., Ty Outlaw scored a career-high 24 points to lead Virginia Tech (21-8, 10-7 ACC) to a victory over Miami (20-9, 10-7). Outlaw set a school record with eight 3-pointers.