Gardner, Franklin drop 18 apiece, No. 7 Virginia dispatches Boston College

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Armaan Franklin and Jayden Gardner scored 18 points each and No. 7 Virginia used a big first-half run to take control in a 76-57 win over Boston College on Saturday, the Cavaliers' sixth straight victory.

The Cavaliers (16-3, 8-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) trailed 18-15 before starting an 18-4 run over the next 11 minutes. Gardner’s basket started the first-half run, and Franklin had a 3-pointer, three free throws and a 2-point shot in the flurry.

Virginia put the game away with a 16-4 second-half spurt.

Quinten Post scored 24 to lead the Eagles (10-12, 4-7). He made his first four shots, including a pair of 3-pointers, and scored 14 straight for Boston College in the first half.

In the second half, after the Eagles closed to within 50-41, Virginia's Isaac McKneely scored off a steal by Ryan Dunn, Franklin added five points and McKneely made a 3-pointer to highlight the run that made it 66-45.

McKneely finished with 12 points and Reece Beekman had 11 and eight assists.

Makai Ashton-Langford added 12 points for the Eagles.

BIG PICTURE

Boston College: Post had an eventful first six minutes. He turned the ball over on three of the Eagles' first four possessions, then scored 14 points in a span of less than three minutes.

Virginia: Freshman Ryan Dunn has seen increased playing time, largely because of his defensive ability, but he showed flashes of all he can do in a first-half burst. Dunn skied to rebound a miss and dunked it, caught an alley-oop pass from Beekman for another dunk, then caught T.J. Bickerstaff from behind on a breakawy layup and blocked the shot.

UP NEXT

Boston College: The Eagles return home to face No. 24 Clemson on Tuesday night.

Virginia: The Cavaliers play at Syracuse on Monday night.

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