CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – In the offseason, Ryan Odom assembled a roster of previously accomplished shooters. In the opener Monday night, they proved they were unafraid to hoist 3s. 

Friday, in a blowout of North Carolina Central, they showed they can actually knock them down.

Thijs DeRidder scored 20 points, including going 3 for 4 from 3-point range, and the Cavaliers blitzed North Carolina Central, 81-62, on Friday night, knocking down 14 shots from beyond the arc, on 36 attempts. Many came after offensive rebounds.

“I’m happy with those shots,” center Johann Grunloh, who had 11 rebounds and seven blocked shots, said. “We have great shooting on our team. I think when we control the boards and get offensive rebounds and second chances, they can just jack it up and shoot it. I’m confident with those shots.”

The Cavaliers (2-0) scored over 80 points in their first two games of a season for the first time since 2007, when they put up 90 and 92 in wins over Vermont and Howard. They jumped out to a 26-5 lead in the first 8:46 and never looked back.

“I just thought we allowed them to start too freely and easily,” NCCU coach LeVelle Moton said. “And often times when you have players that haven’t played in this environment, they can be overwhelmed.”

Malik Thomas scored 12 points and Sam Lewis and Ugonna Onyenso each added 10.

Odom’s offseason transfer haul included five players who hit over 35% of their 3-point shots for their former school last season. Four of them – Lewis (44.4%), Jacari White (39.8%), Devin Tillis (39.5%) and Thomas (39.4%) – connected on over 39%.

But in the season-opening win against Rider, UVA went just 8 for 30 from 3-point range, dominating 87-53 largely off its advantage in the paint.

Friday night, the Cavaliers were 14 for 37 from beyond the arc, hitting 37.8%, a remarkable number when you factor in that, during one first-half stretch, they missed eight straight 3s.

“I asked how many 7-footers did they have, because they subbed like three more. I was like good gracious, how many do they have?” Moton said. “It was damn near impossible to get the rebound. They were getting three and four opportunities. And when you throw it out, you’re going to make one of them as an ACC school.”

Against the Eagles, White went 3 for 5 from 3, Lewis was 3 for 6 and Thomas was 2 for 8.

(Tillis remains out after having October knee surgery.) 

All nine Cavaliers who got in the game in the first 37 minutes attempted a 3, and six knocked down at least one, and UVA assisted on 22 of its 28 made baskets.

“The guys were unselfish and found each other,” Odom said.

But UVA also had stretches, particularly against North Carolina Central’s zone, where it seemed content just to swing the ball around the perimeter and settle for 3s instead of driving to the rim, something both Odom and point guard Dallin Hall were critical of after the win.

“We have a really good shooting team so we definitely always want to be shot ready and shoot it with confidence,” Hall said after dishing out seven assists. “But we want to make sure we get into the heart of the defense, inside out, playing that way.”

Virginia also rode its size and strength advantage in the paint and its depth to wore the Eagles (0-2) down. The Cavaliers out-rebounded NCCU 48-34, grabbed 20 offensive boards that led to 20 second-chance points, and held a 32-7 edge in bench scoring.

UVA returns to action Tuesday night when it hosts Hampton at 9 p.m.