CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia (Ticker) -- Roger Mason Jr. scored 23 points, including a perfect 14-for-14 from the free-throw line, and Travis Watson added 19 as 14th-ranked Virginia posted its eighth straight win, 85-69 over Maryland-Baltimore County.

Virginia (8-0) had a 42-40 halftime lead but pulled away over the final 20 minutes to match its best start since going 11-0 to begin the 1992-93 season.

The Cavaliers have won all eight games by at least 16 points, including a 107-89 victory over No. 4 Tennessee in the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday.

"Our guys were a little tired, a little beat up," Virginia coach Pete Gillen said. "We weren't real sharp physically, mentally and emotionally."

Terence Ward scored 19 points and freshman Peter Mulligan contributed 18 for UMBC (6-3), which has lost three of its last four games after a 5-0 start. The Retrievers are 0-2 all-time against Virginia.

Chris Williams scored six of his 13 points in a 14-4 run to open the second half as Virginia moved out to a 56-44 advantage with 14:35 remaining. The Retrievers got within 60-52 on a three-point play by Mulligan with 10:51 to play.

But the Cavaliers responded with a 17-7 run over the next five minutes to take control as Watson and Adam Hall scored six points apiece.

"I told them (at halftime) we had to play. We didn't play (in the first half)," Gillen said. "In the second half we did a tremendous job."

Hall had 18 points and nine rebounds and Watson grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds for Virginia, which shot 41 percent (30-of-73) but just 1-of-13 from 3-point range. The Cavaliers outrebounded UMBC, 48-35, and committed just 10 turnovers.

The only starter not in double figures for Virginia was Donald Hand, who missed all six shots and fouled out with two points.

Virginia opened a 36-28 lead in the opening half, but Ward scored five consecutive points and Mulligan got the last of his 14 first-half points to cap a 7-0 run. A 3-pointer by Ward with 32 seconds remaining tied it at 40-40, but Mason sank two free throws with 2.8 seconds left to give Virginia a two-point lead.

Kennedy Okafor added 15 points and 11 boards for UMBC, which shot 41 percent (24-of-59).

"I think Pete (Gillen) re-adjusted some lenses at halftime and you saw a much more focused team throughout the second half," UMBC coach Tom Sullivan said. "As the game went on, they got physically stronger and unfortunately, we got physically weaker."