CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Virginia controlled from start to finish in Ryan Odom’s unofficial home debut Friday night at John Paul Jones Arena, beating visiting Villanova behind an exciting offense and in spite of a suspect defense. 

Malik Thomas, one of 10 players making their JPJ debuts, scored 16 as the Cavaliers beat the Wildcats 75-72 a preseason exhibition, the first chance for the home fans to see the rebuilt UVA roster. 

“He’s a natural scorer,” Odom said of Thomas, a graduate transfer from San Francisco. “He can shoot behind the arc. He can get to the basket. He draws fouls. He’s always done that throughout his career and I think he had a good night tonight.”

Virginia’s international imports, Thijs DeRidder and Johann Gruenloh, combined for 20 points and 16 rebounds. All 11 players who took the court for UVA scored.

Local product Chance Mallory (St. Anne’s-Belfield) had five points, three rebounds, two assists and three turnovers in 17 minutes playing in his hometown for the first time as a collegian. Mallory hit a pair of free throws with 21.8 to play to help the Cavaliers hold on.

“Bangs a 3 out there. Handles the ball. Is a tough defender. He’s everything that we want in a guard,” Odom said. “It’s fun to hear the crowd react to him when he does something.”

Guard Acaden Lewis scored 16 points and had five assists to lead Villanova, which will play its first season under new coach Kevin Willard.

“Their physicality kind of surprised us early on,” Willard said. “We dug a hole twice and I wanted to see what we’d do, and I was proud of the way we fought back.”

UVA opened with a three-guard look, with Thomas, Sam Lewis and Dallin Hall on the floor, joined by the two international forwards. 

The first half saw Virginia get scoring from 10 players and assist on 10 of 15 made baskets, while going 8 for 17 from 3-point range. 

Thomas scored nine of his points before the break and UVA went to the locker room up 40-35. 

The Cavaliers did struggle with turnovers in the opening 20 minutes, committing nine of them. And defensively, they didn’t do much to slow Villanova, despite forcing eight Wildcat turnovers.

Villanova shot 51.9% in the first half. 

The second half was more of the same. UVA couldn’t keep Villanova out of the paint or off the scoreboard, but their offense made sure to keep the Wildcats at an arm’s length. 

Villanova pulled within four, down 62-58, with 7:04 left, and within a shot, behind 62-60, with five minutes to play. But Thomas hit a corner 3 with 4:42 to go to keep the Cavaliers in a measure of control.