One year after finding themselves on the wrong side of the biggest upset in college basketball history, the Virginia Cavaliers made sure that history would not repeat Friday.
Virginia overcame a 14-point first-half deficit to beat tournament newcomer Gardner-Webb 71-56 in Columbia, South Carolina, to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday, where they will take on Oklahoma.
Since being stunned 74-54 by UMBC in the first round of last year鈥檚 tournament, Virginia has spent much of the year in the top five of the AP poll, finishing the regular season ranked second in the country.
The Cavaliers lost only two regular season games, both to top overall seed Duke.
If Virginia can beat Oklahoma Sunday, they will advance to their third Sweet 16 in the last six years under head coach Tony Bennett.
