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Ryan Odom’s bid to become the first Virginia men’s basketball coach failed as the Cavaliers lost 80-73 to Butler in the Greenbrier Tip-Off in a ballroom in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

Finley Bizjack scored 25 points and Michael Ajayi had his sixth double-double in six games for Butler (5-1). Ajayi, a senior transfer from Gonzaga, had 17 points and 14 rebounds. He is averaging 14.8 and 12.2 this season.

Butler led the entire second half, except after Malik Thomas hit a 3-pointer and a mid-range jumper to give UVA a 49-48 lead with 16:46 remaining. Bizjack buried a jumper on Butler’s next possession, and the Bulldogs led the rest of the way as Odom was charged with a technical foul for arguing a call.

Thomas led the Cavaliers with 24

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