Virginia Pulls Away for Opening NCAA Win

AARON BEARD   AP Basketball Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Anthony Gill scored 17 points to help No. 1 seed

Virginia

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pull away late and beat

Coastal

Carolina

70-59 on Friday night, avoiding a historic upset in the NCAA tournament.

The Cavaliers, the top seed in the East Region, trailed by 10 in the first half and five at halftime to the 16th-seeded Chanticleers before pushing ahead for good with about 9 minutes left.

A No. 16 seed has never beaten a No. 1 since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, and the Cavs (29-6) ensured history would wait at least another year.

Evan Nolte came off the bench and hit two huge 3-pointers to help

Virginia

finally push away from the Big South champion Chanticleers (21-13), who were in the tournament for the first time in 21 years.

The game was tied at 47 before Nolte's 3s powered a 23-7 spurt that finally put the game away.