Box Score INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The UVa-Wise men's basketball team opened the 2015-16 season with a 73-69 loss to Elizabeth City State University Friday afternoon in Institute, West Virginia, as part of the Earl Lloyd Conference Challenge hosted by West Virginia State.
 
The Cavaliers shot an impressive 93.1 percent at the foul line (27-29) and senior forward Matt Day recorded a double-double but it wasn't enough as UVa-Wise couldn't overcome poor first-half and three-point shooting.
 
UVa-Wise got off to a slow start offensively, their first basket coming over four minutes into the game at the 15:48 mark of the first half. Despite showing stingy defense throughout the first five minutes of play UVa-Wise trailed 7-3 at the first media timeout.
 
Day scored the Cavs' first six points as UVa-Wise slowly climbed back to tie the score up at 14-14 off of a pair of free throws from sophomore forward Dimitri Sousa with 7:16 to go in the first half. The Cavs took their first lead in the game at the 6:39 mark in the half when junior forward Gervelle Kidd knocked down a pair of free throws to give UVa-Wise a 16-14 advantage.
 
A couple of fast break layups and a three-pointer by the Vikings gave Elizabeth City State a 21-16 lead with 4:17 to go in the first half. Sophomore point guard Philip Owens II hit a jumper and redshirt freshman Lashain Matthews added a pair of free throws to get the Cavs within one at 21-20.
 
Down 23-22 the Cavs went scoreless in the final 1:36 of the first half as the Vikings took a 26-22 lead into halftime after three consecutive made foul shots. The Cavs did not miss a free throw in the first half, going 11-11 from the charity stripe.
 
UVa-Wise only shot 21.7 percent in the first half including one for seven from deep as Elizabeth City State shot 34.5 percent and went two for eight from beyond the arc.
 
Two more free throws from Elizabeth City State gave the Vikings a six-point lead early in the second half before the Cavs went on a 6-0 run to even the score at 28-all off of a Sousa layup with 16:56 to go. From there the Vikings hit three-pointers on consecutive possessions as Sousa made another layup and Owens hit a three. The Cavs took their second lead of the game at the 14:55 mark of the second half when they went up 35-34 off of a pair of Day free throws.
 
UVa-Wise mounted a 44-40 lead after more free throws by Day and a layup by freshman forward Zach McDaniel. However, the lead was quickly diminished after Elizabeth City State went on a 10-0 -scoring run to take a 50-44 advantage with 8:45 to go.
 
The Cavs continued to trail before climbing within two points at 55-53 after a two made foul shots by Sousa with 4:48 left in the second half. Down 58-56 with 2:44 remaining the Vikings knocked in a pair of free throws and made a layup to extend their lead to 62-56. After an Owens layup made it a four-point game, Elizabeth City State's DeCarlos Anderson hit a three-point dagger to make it make it 65-58 with only 1:28 go in the game.
 
On UVa-Wise's very next possession the Viking's Anderson was called for a technical foul sending Day to the charity stripe. Day hit both free throws to make it a 65-60 with 1:21 remaining but was then was unable to capitalize on two more free throws after being fouled.
 
In the final minute of play the Cavs made nine points including a three-pointer from Sousa and a tip-in by Day right before time expired, but it was enough as Elizabeth City State held on for the 73-69 win.
 
The Cavs shot 42.4 percent in the second half and went three for 14 from distance, while Elizabeth City State went four of six from downtown and shot 50 percent for the half.
 
UVa-Wise shot only 33.9 percent for the entire game, making 19 of 56 shots while shooting 19 percent from beyond the arc. The Vikings shot 41.8 percent on the night and connected on six of 14 shots from distance. The Cavs got 38 rebounds and made 11 assists as Elizabeth City State earned 39 boards and 10 assists. UVa-Wise lost the turnover battle 17-14.
 
Day finished with a career-high 14 rebounds to go along with 21 points, including making 12 of 14 foul shots. Sousa added 15 points and eight boards for the Cavs, while Owens contributed 13 points.
 
Freshman McDaniel earned seven points and four rebounds off of the bench for UVa-Wise as junior transfer Kidd also had seven points in the contest. McDaniel was three for three from the charity stripe and two of three from the floor.
 
Elizabeth City State was led by Anderson who had 20 points followed by Clayton Cowell and James Theus each with 16. Jermaine Brown grabbed seven boards for the Vikings to go along with four points.
 
The Cavs will continue play in the Earl Lloyd Conference Challenge tomorrow afternoon when they take on Chowan University in a 4 p.m. tip. Saturday's game will be the first contest in program history between the Cavs and the Hawks.
 
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