Landesberg Scores 22 For Cavaliers

Virginia 68, Radford 66

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Nov. 21 -- If Virginia Coach Dave Leitao did not convey his message during a first half when he played every available Virginia player, his pointed halftime speech was meant to clear any ambiguity. The Cavaliers needed to display more passion and play like an ACC team in Friday's eventual 68-66 win over Radford.

Although Virginia has found a way to win its first three games, each one was close -- the past two came down to the final possession -- and none was against opponents comparable to most of the ACC. Leitao schooled his team before the game about upsets around college basketball, when a big-name team falls to a small-conference foe.

"For the second consecutive win, we haven't really played the game the way we intended to from day one at practice," Leitao said. "If we don't make a decision to turn the corner -- both psychologically and physically -- these nights that we eke out wins are going to turn to losses."

It took a pair of free throws from freshman Sylven Landesberg with 31 seconds left to turn a one-point deficit into the thin lead. For the third consecutive game, the Cavaliers were led by their talented newcomer. He led Virginia with 22 points, marking his second consecutive game with a game-winner and his third straight game surpassing 20 points.

Radford held Landesberg to three shots in the first half, but he scored 18 points in the second half and eight in the final 8 minutes 8 seconds.

"That's what happens in games that are close," Radford Coach Brad Greenberg said. "The best player on the court the last three or four minutes has a chance to win the game and he was the best player on the court in the last three or four minutes."

Leitao did not consciously tell Landesberg to be more aggressive in the second half, but Landesberg understood the message from Leitao's speech, and knew he needed to carry the team.

"We didn't come out hard like we've been in the last few games," Landesberg said. "That's what kept them in the game. I think if we came out the same way in the second half as we did in the first half, we would have been in a different game. So coming out in the second half, I had a different mind-set. I was like, there's no way we're going to lose this game."

Leitao phrased it as a lack of passion during the first half, which is why he used 13 players. The Cavaliers scored 27 first-half points and tallied just one assist. The second half was not much better -- Virginia had just three more assists and shot 37 percent -- but the emphasized aggressiveness sent the Cavaliers to the free throw line 17 times after halftime. They hit 14.

The emphasis now is on sustaining that focus. Virginia hosts Liberty on Tuesday before visiting Syracuse and Minnesota -- a pair of games in which Friday's uninspired performance likely will not result in a win.

"We have a lot of work to do," Leitao said, "and we have a short period of time to get serious about doing our work if we have any visions of being as good team."

· XAVIER 63, VIRGINIA TECH 62: Dante Jackson's buzzer-beater from beyond half court lifted the Muskateers over the Hokies in overtime at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in San Juan.

After Virginia Tech went up 62-60 on Jeff Allen's tip-in with three seconds left in overtime, Jackson took the inbounds pass, dribbled a few steps and made his only field goal of game. He had missed his first eight attempts for Xavier (4-0).

Derrick Brown led Xavier with 16 points. Kenny Frease hit two free throws to tie the game at 52 with 2:25 to go in the second half, and neither team scored again in regulation.

Allen led Virginia Tech (3-1) with 22 points and 11 rebounds.