Box Score INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Senior forward Matt Day scored a career-high 31 points and eclipsed 1,000 points for his career Saturday afternoon. However, Day's performance was not enough as the UVa-Wise men's basketball team dropped an 86-81 decision to Chowan University in the 2015 Earl Lloyd Conference Challenge hosted by West Virginia State.
 
With the loss the Cavaliers fall to 0-2 on the season while the Hawks improved to 1-1.
 
Nine first-half turnovers and hot shooting by the Hawks led to a 15-point deficit for the Cavs at halftime. UVa-Wise played a much closer second half and had many chances down the stretch to tie up the game but wasn't able to capitalize. The Cavs only led once in the game at the 18:31 mark of the first half (5-4).
 
Chowan built a quick 11-5 lead early in the first half despite a quick lay-in by sophomore point guard Philip Owen II and a three by Day. At the 15:36 mark in the first half the Hawks had increased their lead to 16-5 after a jumper and three-pointer, before the Cavs got a layup from transfer junior forward Gervelle Kidd and another three from Day to cut the deficit to six at 16-10.
 
The Cavs struggled to make shots the following six minutes, only scoring on a layup by redshirt freshman guard Camryn Fort and then on a free throw by Fort on another possession. With 10:24 remaining in the half the Hawks had ballooned their lead to 18. The Cavs trailed by as many as 23 in the first half before cutting the deficit to 15 at halftime (50-35).
 
UVa-Wise shot 44.4 percent in the opening half, going 12 of 27 including four of 15 from long range. The Hawks hit 18 of 31 shots in the first half, shooting 58.1 percent and making three of five from beyond the arc.
 
The Cavs came out of halftime and went on an 11-3 run capped by a three-pointer by Owens, cutting the lead to seven at 53-46 with 17:07 remaining. UVa-Wise kept the Hawks lead under control before climbing within six after a pair of Fort free throws. UVa-Wise had a several chances to make it a one possession game but missed shots and turnovers allowed Chowan to hold onto its command.
 
With 6:16 remaining in the contest Day hit a three-pointer and then made a layup to make it a three-point game at 69-66 with 5:06 to go. A pair of free throws and a layup for the Hawks increased their lead to 73-66 before sophomore forward Dimitri Sousa connected on a jumper followed by a pair of made foul shots by Day. The free throws got the Cavs within two at 75-72 with 2:38 left in the game.
 
UVa-Wise came within two points twice more at 77-75 and then 82-80 after an old-fashioned three-point play by Day with 35 seconds remaining. However, that was the closest the Cavs would get as UVa-Wise chose to foul and Chowan hit a pair of free throws to extend their advantage to 84-80 with only 25 seconds left. Earning a trip to the charity stripe Fort was only able to convert on one of two free throws with 15 seconds left and the Cavs were forced to foul. The Hawks made one of two at the line but UVa-Wise committed a turnover and had to foul again. Chowan hit one more free throw of the two foul shots to claim the 86-81 victory as the Cavs dribbled out the clock.
 
Day recorded his 1,000th career point on a pair of free throws at the 5:50 mark of the first half. The Buckhorn Ky. (Buckhorn H.S.), native had seven rebounds, four assists and a block to go along with his career-high 31 points off of 9-20 shooting. He was also perfect at the free throw line, going 9-9 on the night.
 
Owens added 20 points, five assists and two steals for the Cavs as he shot 8-17 and 4-9 from downtown. Sousa had another solid outing in only his second collegiate game, contributing 18 points and a team-high eight boards while connecting on seven of nine shots including two of three from beyond the arc. Fort finished with a career-high eight points and a steal, making four of six free throws.
 
Jeremy Smith led the Hawks with 24 points and 13 caroms while Cortez registered 22 points and made three assists. Joe Goodwin scored 16 points and grabbed three boards for Chowan on a five of seven night shooting.
 
The Cavs will now have a week off before opening up Mountain East Conference play next Saturday when they travel to Charleston, West Virginia, to take on the University of Charleston at 4 p.m.
 
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