ETTRICK, Va. - - It required double overtime but UVa-Wise won its sixth consecutive season opener as the Cavaliers posted a 108-106 victory over Elizabeth City State on Friday.

UVa-Wise (1-0) opened the game on a 16-4 run as freshman Philip Owens II scored eight of his game-high 35 points in the run.  The Cavaliers would lead for the first 19 minutes of the contest until an Elon Edwards 3-pointer gave Elizabeth City a 35-34 lead with under a minute to play in the opening half. Edwards' bucket capped an 8-0 run by the Vikings.

Elizabeth City (0-1) would eventually take a 38-36 lead to intermission as the team hit on nine of 17 3-point attempts in the first 20 minutes. Edwards made three of the 3-pointers as he scored a team-high nine points in the half.

The two schools would swap the lead seven times in the second half. The Vikings appeared to have the game put away with just under six minutes to go when a jumper by Kentrell Key gave Elizabeth City a 75-65 lead. 

The Cavaliers however would battle back. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Owens and Brian Sydnor cut the lead to four.  UVa-Wise would regain the lead with 1:28 to play when Matt Day canned a 3-pointer.  During the run, the Cavs held the Vikings scoreless for over three minutes to take the lead.

John Tatum stopped the drought for Elizabeth City when his layup gave his club a 79-78 advantage with just over a minute to play. 

A Sydnor layup and free throw by Day gave UVa-Wise what seemed to be an insurmountable lead at 84-79 with 26 seconds to go. This time it was the Vikings that fought back.  A Glenn Paterson 3-pointer and a pair of free throws by Edwards sandwiched a Day foul shot to cut the lead to one at 85-84 with 12 ticks remaining.

Following a UVa-Wise turnover, Elizabeth City's DeCarlos Anderson found himself at the line with a chance to give his team the lead with three seconds to play. Anderson would split the two foul shots to send the game to overtime tied at 85.

After neither side could lead by more than a bucket for the first three and a half minutes of the extra session, Owens drained a 3-pointer to give the Cavs a 97-93 lead.  As was the story of the night, the Vikings again answered.

Miykael Faulcon answered with a 3-pointer of his own and after an empty possession by UVa-Wise a Faulcon jumper gave the Vikings a 98-97 lead with seven seconds to play.

Trailing by one, UVa-Wise's Charles George was fouled with three seconds to play and went to the line with a shot to regain the lead for his squad.  The guard split the pair of free throws, sending the game to another five minute session.

Owens and Day would each hit a 3-pointer for the Cavs in the opening moments of the second overtime to give UVa-Wise a 104-100 advantage. 

Elizabeth City responded with a 6-0 run to go up by two with 1:11 remaining.  Following a split of made foul shots by George, the Vikings had the ball with a 106-105 advantage with 47 seconds to go.

The Vikings would run the shot clock down before Tatum missed a jumper; George secured the rebounded; giving UVa-Wise a shot to win the game.

Day would do just that for the Cavs as the Buckhorn, Kentucky native banked in a jumper and was fouled. The junior made the foul shot giving UVa-Wise a 108-106 lead with seven seconds left.

Edwards would attempt a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer but his effort was blocked by Oliver Thompson giving the Cavs the 108-106 win.

Owens' collegiate debut was one to remember. The Virginia Beach, Virginia native's final stat line read 35 points, seven assists, and five boards against just one turnover.

Sydnor posted a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 15 rebounds while Day posted 21 points and nine rebounds.  George, 14 points, and Jordan Smith, 10 points, also finished in double-figure scoring for UVa-Wise.

Edwards led the Viking with 24 points and 10 boards off the bench while Patterson netted 23 points. 

The two schools combined to make 30 3-pointers in the game, led by Owens' seven.  UVa-Wise finished the contest 34-68 from the floor and 17-43 from distance.  The 108 points are the most scored by the Cavs since 2010.

UVa-Wise will look to go 2-0 tomorrow when the team plays Virginia State at 6 pm.