CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Interstat) — The Virginia men’s basketball team used a dominant defensive performance and a balanced scoring attack to defeat North Carolina Central 81-62 on Friday night at John Paul Jones Arena.

The Cavaliers improved to 2-0 on the young season, while the Eagles fell to 0-2.

Virginia’s defense set the tone early, forcing the Eagles into difficult shots and capitalizing on turnovers. The Cavaliers built a commanding lead in the first half and never looked back, maintaining a double-digit advantage throughout the second half.

Virginia was led by a standout performance from forward Thijs De Ridder. The sophomore from Antwerp, Belgium, scored a game-high 20 points on efficient shooting, adding five rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes of action.

The Cavaliers’ interior defense was anchored by a formidable duo of seven-footers. Johann Gruenloh, a freshman from Loningen, Germany, was a force in the paint, pulling down 11 rebounds and swatting a remarkable seven shots. Fellow seven-footer Ugonna Onyenso, from Owerri, Nigeria, contributed 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

Virginia’s backcourt was equally effective. Malik Thomas of Fontana, California, orchestrated the offense with 12 points and a team-high six assists. Chance Mallory, a local product from Charlottesville, provided a spark off the bench with nine points, five rebounds and four assists. Jacari White of Orlando, Florida, also chipped in nine points.

North Carolina Central was paced by the scoring of guard Gage Lattimore. The Greensboro native poured in 25 points in 40 minutes of play. Forward Khouri Carvey, from Wilson, North Carolina, recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

The Eagles struggled to find consistent offense against Virginia’s pack-line defense, particularly in the paint where Gruenloh and Onyenso altered numerous shots.

Virginia’s ball movement was crisp, leading to high-percentage looks. The Cavaliers consistently broke down the Eagles’ defense, resulting in a comfortable victory in their home opener.

North Carolina Central will look to secure its first win of the season when it travels to face Appalachian State on Sunday. Virginia returns to action at home on Tuesday against Hampton.