Jamaree Bouyea scored 19 points and added six assists to lead the San Francisco Dons to a 61-60 upset win over fourth-ranked Virginia in the HomeLight Classic Friday. The game was played at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut as part of the “Bubbleville” event.
Sam Hauser missed a potentially game-winning three-pointer on Virginia’s final shot as time expired, sealing the win for San Francisco.
Sophomore forward Justin McKoy led Virginia with 11 points while junior point guard Kihei Clark struggled to nine points and two assists.
Virginia (1-1) entered the 2020-21 season with aspirations of returning to the Final Four after winning the last NCAA Tournament in 2019. However, their struggles on offense continue to plague them. The Cavaliers were outscored 39-9 beyond the arc, as the Dons made 13 three-pointers.
San Francisco (2-1) shot 46.4% from three. However, Virginia was a mere 3-of-12 from the same range.
Virginia led 24-21 at halftime, but San Francisco scored 40 in the second half getting out in transition. The Cavaliers offense was stagnant much of the second half as they had just five assists unlike their season-opening win against Towson in which they made 15 treys and had 17 assists.
The stunning loss to San Francisco is Virginia’s first to a non-major conference team since their historic loss to UMBC in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. The Cavalier then become the first No. 1 seed to ever lose to a 16-seed.
The loss also shows Virginia cannot lean solely on their program-defining defense. They will have to improve their offense consistency. Bennett will have time to iron out the wrinkles before their next game against St. Francis (PA) on Dec. 1 in Charlottesville.
Meanwhile for San Francisco, its the program’s first win over a top-five ranked team since 1981. It’s a program-building win that the Dons be able to carry them as they look to climb in the West Coast Conference. They’ll remain at the Bubbleville to play their fourth game in five days on Sunday against Rhode Island
