WISE, Va. – UVa-Wise men's basketball faces the University of Charleston in the Cavaliers' home opener and first Mountain East Conference game of the season inside the David J. Prior Convocation Center.
 
Storylines – vs. the University of Charleston
The Cavs face the University of Charleston for the fifth time in program history holding a 1-3 all-time record against the Golden Eagles. In the two teams' most recent meeting last season, UVa-Wise defeated Charleston in a close 77-75 game on the road. With under a minute to play and down 70-67 a three-pointer to tie up the score at 70-all and then seven free throws propelled the Cavs to victory over the Golden Eagles this past February. Prior to that game UVa-Wise had lost to Charleston at home earlier in the 2014-15 season and twice during the 2013-14 season both in Wise and in Charleston. The Cavs came one-point shy of defeating the Golden Eagles inside the Prior Center on Feb. 15, 2014, falling 72-71 after holding a one-point lead with just 21 seconds left. A pair of free throws and a late jumper with seven ticks left sealed the win for the Golden Eagles in the 2014 game in Wise.
 
This season the Golden Eagles were picked to finish fifth in the MEC by a vote of the league's head coaches, only three points behind Concord University who was chosen fourth in the preseason poll. Charleston is led by third-year Head Coach Dwaine Osborne who collected a total of 40 wins in his first two years at the helm of the program. The Golden Eagles defeated Livingstone College (54-49) in their season opener but have since suffered losses to Winston-Salem State (75-66) on the road last Saturday and Virginia State in double overtime this past Tuesday (84-77) at home. Charleston is led by Chris Evans (16.6 ppg) and 2014-15 All-MEC Second Team selection Jevonte Hughes (11.3 ppg), who also leads the team in rebounding (6.8 rpg).
 
About UVa-Wise
Last weekend the UVa-Wise men's basketball team began its 61st season with a trip to Institute, West Virginia, to participate in the 2015 Earl Lloyd Conference Challenge hosted by West Virginia State. The Cavs were narrowly defeated in a pair of games against Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association members Elizabeth City State University (73-69) and Chowan University (86-81).
 
Senior forward Matt Day led the Cavs in both of last weekend's games, recording a career-high 14 rebounds against Elizabeth City State Friday before tallying a career-high 31 points versus Chowan Saturday. The Buckhorn, Ky. (Buckhorn H.S.), native became just the 33rd player in UVa-Wise history to record 1,000 career points when he hit a pair of free throws at the 5:50 mark of the first half in the game against Chowan.
 
Following tomorrow's game UVa-Wise will hit the road to take on West Virginia State Monday in the Cavs' first MEC road game of the season.