WISE, Va. – The UVa-Wise men's basketball team opens the 2015-16 season against fellow NCAA Atlantic Region member Elizabeth City State Friday at 3 p.m.
 
Storylines – vs. Elizabeth City State at the Earl Lloyd Conference Challenge
For the second consecutive year, UVa-Wise will face Elizabeth City State in the season opener after the Cavaliers earned a 108-106 double overtime win over the Vikings on Nov. 14, 2014. Friday's meeting will take place on the campus of West Virginia State in Institute, West Virginia, inside the Walker Convocation Center as part of the 2015 Earl Lloyd Conference Challenge. Last year senior forward Matt Day banked in a jumper off the glass and got fouled with seven seconds remaining in the second overtime to propel the Cavs to victory. Down 106-105 with 14 seconds to go, Day's basket and made free throw gave UVa-Wise a two-point advantage as the Vikings were not able to make a shot to send the game into a third overtime.
 
This year the Cavs face an Elizabeth City State team that was picked to finish ninth overall in the CIAA and sixth in the CIAA Northern Division. The Vikings are led by second year Head Coach Alico Dunk, who served as the interim head coach a season ago after being at the helm of the women's program for five years. UVa-Wise is looking to win its seventh consecutive season opener with the Cavs last loss in a season opener coming against NCAA Division I Elon University in 2008.
 
About UVa-Wise
The UVa-Wise men's basketball team begins its 61st season Friday as Head Coach Blake Mellinger starts his third year at the helm of the program. Being NCAA postseason eligible for the first time in school history, the Cavs were picked to finish 12th by a vote of the league's head coaches in the Mountain East Conference preseason poll.
 
UVa-Wise returns three letter winners from a year ago including two starters in senior forward Matt Day and sophomore point guard Philip Owens II. The Cavs also welcome back junior forward Corey Dick along with three redshirt freshmen. Guards Camryn Fort, Lashain Matthews and Anthony Howard Jr. all redshirted their first collegiate season and will be ready to see playing time this year. Sophomore forward Dimitri Sousa had to sit out his freshman year but is ready to step onto the court for competition this season. A total of six newcomers are on this year's squad as the Cavs bring in two freshmen in forward Zach McDaniel and guard Darren Belardo. However, Belardo will be sitting out his first collegiate season due to injury. UVa-Wise also gets four transfers in guards Ricardo Hill Jr., Desmon Shaver, and Demarcus Edwards along with forward Gervelle Kidd.