As has been written before, one half a complete game does not make. That old epitaph was proven true on Tuesday night as the University of Virginia Cavaliers overturned a halftime deficit to beat the Davidson University Wildcats 83-72 in a terrific game. 

Davidson played better than they have at any point this season during the first half, and held a 12 point lead at one point. However, it was at that point in time that the sell-out crowd assembled in John Paul Jones Arena woke up, keying a Cavalier rally that cut the lead to four points heading into the half.

In the second half, Virginia was a completely different team. The crowd was looking for any opportunity to rise to their feet, and the Cavaliers suddenly looked like the third-ranked team in the country as they outscored the Wildcats by 15 in the second half.

The game itself was truly a tale of two halves. The guard triumvirate of Jack Gibbs, Tyler Kalinoski and Brian Sullivan led the way for Davidson and went on to finish with 21, 2o and 14 points respectively.

They were the three catalysts for Davidson's terrific play in the first half, and it felt as if every time the Wildcats needed a big shot one of them would hit one. Kalinoski and Gibbs scored the first 10 Davidson points, and 17 of the first 19.

The Cavaliers had started the game looking sluggish, but were slowly starting to grow into the game. Just before the eight minute mark in the first half, it seemed they would go on a run to take control of the game when Wooden Award candidate Justin Anderson rose up for a rim-shaking dunk and one to make it a 23-17 Davidson lead.

The move was one which should garner a spot on the SportsCenter Top 10, and brought the entire crowd to its feet. However, he went and missed the ensuing costless throw and Kalinoski promptly went down to the other end and made a three pointer. 

With the score at 26-17, the game headed to the under eight minute time out. Just seven seconds after returning from the time out, Gibbs had knocked down another three to open up the lead to 29-17.

Virginia attempted to respond through Anthony Gill and Anderson, who cut the deficit to seven before Gibbs and Kalinoski poured in five straight points to again silence the crowd and again open the lead to 12 points.

It was at that moment that Virginia woke up. They went on a 10-2 run to close out the half, and there was very little doubt in the crowd's mind that they would kick on and dominate the second half.

Coming out after the break, it took them only two and a half minutes to tie the game, and it was at that point that Gill decided to take over the game. 

His impact to that point had been minimal, but the big man went on a tear throughout the rest of the second half. Gill finished with 25 points on 11-16 shooting and 13 rebounds and took over the game in the second period.

After Virginia knotted it up, the two teams matched each other shot for shot for the next seven minutes. It was at the 10 minute mark that Anderson finally put Virginia out in front for good. 

He made two three-pointers in quick succession to open up a 61-55 lead, and the Cavaliers would never look back. Over the remainder of the game, Davidson would do everything in their power to get back in the game and the aforementioned Sullivan was at the fore.

He poured in three-pointer after three-pointer, but Davidson's inability to shut down Gill inside ultimately spelled their downfall. When Gill dunked to make it a 77-65 Virginia lead just before the three minute mark, the game was all but over.

The result continues Virginia's unbeaten run to 12 games, and they are now 12-0. Virginia look one of only two or three teams in the country who have a genuine hope of defeating Kentucky. Meanwhile, Davidson falls to 9-2 but look every bit an NCAA Tournament team.

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About the author
Liam McMahon
American sports journalist based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin who has been affiliated with VAVEL for more than a year. Co-editor of the soccer section at VAVEL USA and international football writer at VAVEL UK.