Virginia Routs Syracuse – Cavaliers Win First ACC Title in 31 years

Maybe it's time to start getting worried. Following a school best 25-0 start, the fourth-ranked Syracuse Orange have now lost three of four after getting out played, out shot and out hustled by No. 12 Virginia on Saturday.

Fans had been asking for a game that didn't come down the wire. While that happened on Saturday, the Orange were on the short end, 75-56, in a loss that secures the Cavaliers first outright ACC regular season conference title in 31 years.

Led by Malcolm Brogden's game high 19 points, the Cavs went on to shoot an even 50% from the floor - and 8 of 16 from 3 - with a remarkable 48 second half points.

Akil Mitchell added a dozen points and nine boards, while Mike Tobey and Justin Anderson each scored 11.

After falling behind 22-15 with under seven minutes to play in the opening half, Syracuse (26-3, 13-3 ACC) ended with a 13-5 spurt, including three key 3-pointers, to take a 28-27 lead at the break.

Both teams exchanged buckets to start the second before the Orange faded in the final 13 minutes. What was a 40-40 game seemed to get out of hand quickly as Virginia pulled away with a 35-16 run to close out the game.

Out of rhythm, the Orange made only 5 of 22 3-point attempts with C.J. Fair going 0-5 and Trevor Cooney making just 3 of 10.

Fair and Tyler Ennis led Syracuse with 13 points each. Conney had a dozen.

The Orange's bigs also had a tough night on the glass: Rakeem Christmas and Baye Moussa Keita combined for 10 boards with 'Cuse getting out-rebounded 39-29 for the game.