CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Interstat) — The Virginia men’s basketball team looks to build on a dominant season-opening win when it hosts North Carolina Central on Friday, Nov. 7, at John Paul Jones Arena.

The Cavaliers (1-0) rolled to an 87-53 victory over Rider on Monday. Forward Thijs De Ridder led the way with a double-double, scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Johann Gruenloh added 12 points and three blocks, while Chance Mallory chipped in 11 points.

Virginia’s defense, a hallmark under coach Tony Bennett, will be tested by a North Carolina Central (0-1) team looking to rebound from a difficult opener. The Eagles fell 114-66 at North Carolina State on Monday. Khouri Carvey scored 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the loss, and Gage Lattimore added a team-high 20 points.

The matchup presents a stark contrast in early-season momentum. The Cavaliers’ stifling pack-line defense will aim to contain the Eagles’ top scorers, Carvey and Lattimore, while Virginia’s balanced offensive attack seeks to control the tempo.

For North Carolina Central, the game begins a challenging stretch against power-conference opponents, with games at North Carolina and Kentucky looming later in the month. Virginia continues a season-opening homestand before heading to a multi-team event in West Virginia later in November.