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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Anthony Gill scored 17 points to lead four Virginia players in double figures and the second-ranked Cavaliers beat Syracuse 59-47 on Monday night to capture the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title for the second straight year.
This was the supreme test for the offensively challenged Orange (18-12, 9-8), who had averaged 58 points in the three previous games, two of them losses. Virginia (28-1, 16-1) entered the game leading the nation in scoring defense (50.1) and had limited three opponents — Rutgers (26), Harvard (27) and Georgia Tech (28) to fewer than 30 points.
Even without Justin Anderson, Virginia’s second-leading scorer and top outside threat — out of the lineup for the seventh straight game with a broken finger — the Cavaliers proved too much for the Orange despite a dismal start.
Mike Tobey, Malcolm Brogdon, and London Perrantes, playing with a broken nose, all scored 10 points for Virginia.
It was the final game of his college career for Syracuse center Rakeem Christmas, whose breakout season ended with 10 points and only four rebounds, well below his averages, as Virginia commanded the glass 42-20.
Trevor Cooney had 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting to lead Syracuse. Tyler Roberson had 10 points, while Michael Gbinije had just eight on 2-of-11 shooting, only the second time in conference play he hasn’t been in double figures.
The Orange had upset both then-No. 12 Louisville and Notre Dame in a six-day span, the Irish falling three spots this week to No. 12.
These Cavaliers seem to be in a different league, though. They shrugged off an absolutely miserable start and, after falling behind by 11 points 13 minutes into the game, responded like champions.
Virginia took a 23-20 halftime lead on a layup high off the glass by Perrantes in the final seconds and started the second half 7 of 9 from the field, including one 3-pointer by Evan Nolte and two by Brogdon. Tobey’s dunk of an alley-oop pass gave the Cavaliers a 40-27 lead with 15:32 left and completed a 35-12 run in 10 minutes spanning halftime.
Virginia has held opponents scoreless for 5 or more minutes 25 times this season and has limited them without a field goal for 8 or more minutes 11 times. In the first half, Syracuse gave the Cavaliers a taste of their own medicine, forcing 10 turnovers in the first 20 minutes and holding them scoreless for the opening 8:19.
But when a layup by Gill finally put the Cavaliers on the board, they only trailed 6-2 as the Orange struggled, too, against the best defense in the nation.
Texas 61, No. 14 Baylor 59, OT
AUSTIN, Texas — Isaiah Taylor made a tear-drop shot in the lane with 4.8 seconds remaining to give Texas a victory over No. 14 Baylor in overtime, snapping the Bears’ four-game winning streak and the Longhorns’ four-game losing streak.
Texas (18-12) improved to 7-10 in the Big 12 with one game remaining, keeping its hopes for an NCAA tournament bid alive. Last season, Oklahoma State became the first Big 12 team to get an at-large bid with a losing conference record (8-10).
Baylor (22-8, 10-7) had a chance to tie, but Kenny Chery’s shot was blocked by Myles Turner with 1 second left.
Seven players from both teams were ejected in the overtime for leaving the bench during a brief skirmish between Taylor and Baylor’s Royce O’Neal.
Demarcus Holland led Texas with 12 points. Kendal Yancy scored 11, one more than Javan Felix, who began the overtime with a 3-pointer.
Taurean Prince led Baylor with 17 points. Rico Gathers had 12 points and 11 rebounds.