CANCUN, MEXICO For the second time in eight days, Virginia couldn't throw the basketball in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Cavaliers had seven field goals in the second half, none in the first seven minutes, and lost to Stanford 57-52 in the semifinals of the Cancun Challenge.

Virginia (3-2) meets Cleveland State (3-2) in the third-place game at 7 p.m. The Vikings fell to Kentucky 73-49 in Tuesday's first game at the Moon Palace Resort, a makeshift basketball facility that seats 1,200.

"It's like playing in church," said Cory Alexander, analyst on the UVa men's basketball network.

The Cavaliers didn't have a prayer after Stanford (3-2) went on a 9-0 run to reverse the momentum UVa had gained in taking a 46-45 lead.

"That's when your defense has to be at its strongest," first-year UVa coach Tony Bennett said.

The Cardinal's run consisted of three lay-ups and an uncontested Jeremy Green 3-pointer.

"Unacceptable," Bennett called it.

It was the Cavaliers' sixth loss in seven meetings with Stanford. The Cardinal is coached by former Duke All-American and assistant coach Johnny Dawkins, who was 1-1 against Bennett's 2008-2009 Washington State team.

The Cardinal posted a 20-14 record last year in Dawkins' first season but was picked last in the Pac-10 this year.

Stanford was coming off an 83-81 home loss to Oral Roberts in a preliminary Cancun Challenge game. The Cavaliers, picked 11^th out of 12 ACC teams, routed Oral Roberts 76-55 on Saturday in Charlottesville.

"Our practice [Monday] was not strong," Bennett said. "It wasn't focused and it showed. For some reason, we were very flat. I don't think any coach plans to have a team come out and lack fire in their bellies."

The Cavaliers played the first half without junior Mustapha Farrakhan, who had started the first four games but was benched as the result of an undisclosed "coach's decision," according to UVa's network.

Farrakhan, averaging 10.3 points per game, did not score from the field and finished with three points.

Junior Jeff Jones, who took Farrakhan's spot in the lineup, gave Virginia a 31-30 halftime on his fourth 3-pointer of the first half but scored only three of his team-high 17 points in the second half.

Sophomore Sylven Landesberg had 16 points, and had more second-half field goals (four) than the rest of the Cavaliers combined. However, he missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 1:57 left and later was called for a lane violation before another one of his attempts missed.

The Cavaliers shot 37.8 percent from the field and 58.3 percent from the line.

Stanford's Landy Fields, a 6-foot-7 junior, finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds.

VIRGINIA (3-2)

Scott 2-6 3-6 7, Meyinsse 1-2 2-2 4, Zeglinski 1-5 0-0 2, Landesberg 7-12 2-4 16, Jones 5-9 3-4 17, Evans 0-1 0-0 0, Farrakhan 0-2 3-4 3, Baker 0-3 1-2 1, Sene 1-3 0-2 2, Sherrill 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 17-45 14-24 52.

STANFORD (3-2)

Fields 9-16 5-8 25, Zimmermann 0-5 0-0 0, Trotter 2-5 0-0 4, Mann 2-5 2-7 7, Green 4-14 0-0 10, Shiller 3-7 0-0 9, Igbinosa 0-0 0-0 0, Dildy 1-2 0-0 2, Bullock 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-54 7-15 57.

Halftime--Virginia 31-30. 3-Point Goals--Virginia 4-18 (Jones 4-7, Sherrill 0-1, Baker 0-1, Evans 0-1, Farrakhan 0-2, Zeglinski 0-2, Landesberg 0-4), Stanford 8-16 (Shiller 3-4, Fields 2-3, Green 2-6, Mann 1-1, Zimmermann 0-1, Dildy 0-1). Fouled Out--None. Rebounds--Virginia 35 (Scott 9), Stanford 36 (Fields 13). Assists--Virginia 10 (Scott, Zeglinski 3), Stanford 11 (Mann 5). Total Fouls--Virginia 18, Stanford 18. A--200.