INSTITUTE, W.Va. – UVa-Wise takes on Chowan University today at 4 p.m. for the Cavaliers second game in the 2015 Earl Lloyd Conference Challenge.
                                  
Storylines – vs. Chowan university AT the Earl Lloyd conference challenge
Saturday afternoon's matchup will be the Cavs' first ever meeting with the Hawks in men's basketball. The game will take place in Institute, W.Va. as UVa-Wise plays its second game in the 2015 Earl Lloyd Conference Challenge held on the campus of West Virginia State inside the Walker Convocation Center. The Cavs face a Chowan team that was picked to finish seventh overall in the CIAA and fourth in the CIAA Northern Division.  Both the Cavs and the Hawks enter Saturday's game having suffered season-opening losses Friday. UVa-Wise lost its first season opener since the Cavs' loss at NCAA Division I Elon in 2008, dropping a 73-69 decision to Elizabeth City State Friday. Chowan was defeated 75-71 Friday night by fellow Mountain East Conference member West Virginia State in its first game in the conference challenge. The Hawks are led by fourth-year Head Coach Brett Vincent who is coming off of a 2014-15 campaign where his team went 15-13, the most wins in five seasons. Last year Chowan had one player named All-CIAA and another named to the CIAA All-Rookie Team.
 
 About UVa-Wise
The UVa-Wise men's basketball team began its 61st season yesterday with a 73-69 loss at the hands of CIAA opponent Elizabeth City State. The Cavaliers shot an impressive 93.1 percent at the foul line, going (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. Day finished with a career-high 14 rebounds to go along with 21 points, including making 12 of 14 foul shots. Sophomore forward Dimitri Sousa added 15 points and eight boards in his Cavalier basketball debut, while sophomore point Guard Philip Owens II contributed 13 points on a 5-10 shooting night. Freshman forward Zach McDaniel earned seven points and four rebounds off of the bench in his first collegiate game, going three for three from the charity stripe and two of three from the floor. Junior transfer forward Gervelle Kidd also had seven points in his first game as a Cav. Following Saturday afternoon's matchup the Cavs will have a week off before opening up MEC play next Saturday at the University of Charleston.