Singletary Sensational in Loss to Zags

Sean Singletary scored 35 points, eight more than Gonzaga star Adam Morrison.

Sean Singletary outshined the nation’s leading scorer, but Gonzaga’s overall depth and talent ultimately proved too much for Virginia on Saturday night in Spokane, Washington. Despite a career-high 35 points from their sophomore point guard, the Cavaliers couldn’t quite pull off the upset of the #10 Zags and dropped their third straight game.

Singletary, who missed UVa’s home loss to Fordham on Dec. 7 with a hip injury, was outstanding. He made 11 of 20 shots, including four 3-pointers, and also had six rebounds, six steals and four assists. He outscored Adam Morrison, a strong national player of the year candidate who finished with 27 points, one under his average.

Morrison, however, had the better supporting cast. Point guard Derek Raivio knocked down five 3-pointers and scored 18 points, while bruising center J.P. Batista had 17 points. Virginia brought just seven scholarship players (Donte Minter and T.J. Bannister didn’t make the trip) and J.R. Reynolds (10 points) was the only one besides Singletary to score in double figures.

Singletary kept Virginia (3-4) in contention for 35 minutes. The Cavs led by six in the second half and the score was tired at 64 with 5:45 remaining, but Raivio made a 3-pointer and Gonzaga reeled off seven straight points to take command.

“You play one of the best teams in the country and you have to play your behind off in order to win,” said UVa coach Dave Leitao. “We didn’t do that for the 40 minutes.”

Still, it was an encouraging performance in many respects. Individually, Singletary’s game will go down as among the best in Cavalier history. The ‘Hoos also hung close in one of the nation’s toughest road venues. The Zags have now won 29 straight at McCarthey Athletic Center.

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