No. 5 Virginia did not hold a lead until the final minute of regulation and led for a total of 32 seconds in a 63-62 overtime victory over California Tuesday night. A clutch three-pointer by junior guard London Perrantes with 10 seconds remaining in the extra period provided the game-winning points.
The Cavaliers (10-1) overcame an abysmal first half that saw Virginia shoot 18.2 percent from the field. Freshman forward Jaylen Brown scored seven in the opening half, and the Golden Bears (9-3) carried a 27-20 advantage into the break.
Seniors Anthony Gill and Malcolm Brogdon were held without a field goal in the first half, going a combined 0-for-8. Freshman forward Jarred Reuter provided a major lift off the bench with seven points in nine minutes.
Reuter finished the game with 11 points and two boards on 3-of-4 shooting and a 5-of-6 outing from the line.
Virginia flipped the script with a 32-point outburst in the second half. The Cavaliers shot 54.2 percent from the floor, including a perfect 3-for-3 from downtown, in the second.
Gill led all second-half scorers with 11 points on an efficient 4-of-7 shooting. The Charlotte Christian alum led his team with 17 points.
Virginia’s defense held California without a basket for nearly seven minutes after a made jumper by junior guard Jabari Bird. The Golden Bears scored only two points after that jumper on a pair of free throws by Brown to force overtime.
A potential lottery pick this summer, Brown scored 18 points on 5-of-11 shooting and grabbed six rebounds.
California outscored the Cavaliers 8-4 to start overtime, but an and-one layup by sophomore forward Isaiah Wilkins cut the Golden Bears’ advantage to 60-57. Virginia then outscored California 6-2 in the final two minutes.
Brogdon knocked down a corner three with 55 seconds remaining to pull Virginia within two. The three-point field goal was only Brogdon’s third make in 12 attempts. Then 43 seconds later, Perrantes hit his second three-pointer of the game, the shot that proved to be the game-winner.
Virginia now takes off for the holiday break before welcoming Oakland to John Paul Jones Arena on Dec. 30.
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