WISE, Va. – UVa-Wise men's basketball steps out of conference play and travels to Harrogate, Tennessee, for a matchup with 17th-ranked Lincoln Memorial University Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
Storylines – at Lincoln Memorial University
The Cavaliers take on the Railsplitters on the road two days after Thanksgiving in UVa-Wise's first game against a nationally ranked opponent this year. Lincoln Memorial enters Saturday's contest ranked 17th in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) NCAA Division II rankings after earning a preseason ranking of No. 5 in the NABC preseason poll.
 
The Cavs' last victory over the Railsplitters came on Dec. 8, 2012, when UVa-Wise handed then undefeated LMU an 81-80 overtime loss inside the David J. Prior Convocation Center. Since then UVa-Wise has come out on the losing end of the schools' last two meetings, falling 83-57 on the road in 2013 and suffering a 107-55 setback at home in December of 2014.
 
The Railsplitters own a 3-1 overall record this season with their lone loss coming on the road at nearby King University (83-69). LMU is coming off of a 98-82 home win over South Atlantic Conference (SAC) foe Carson-Newman this past Tuesday in its league opener.
 
In his eighth season at the helm of LMU men's basketball, Head Coach Josh Schertz has led the Railsplitters to a 173-45 overall record, four SAC regular season titles and two SAC tournament Championships. Schertz has guided LMU to six straight 20-win seasons, five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and 16 postseason wins. Redshirt senior guard Gerel Simmons leads the Railsplitters offensively, averaging 18.3 points per game and 3.3 assists per game, while senior guard Jalen Steele (14.5 ppg) and sophomore forward Emanuel Terry (10.3 ppg) are each averaging double-digit scoring. LMU redshirt senior Curtis McMillion leads the team in rebounding with six per game.
 
About UVa-Wise
Last time out UVa-Wise dropped an 85-65 decision at West Virginia State this past Monday in the Cavs' first Mountain East Conference road game of the early season. Senior forward Matt Day recorded his second double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds against the Yellow Jackets.
 
The Cavs are in search of their first win of the season and Head Coach Blake Mellinger's first victory against LMU. UVa-Wise is led by Day who is averaging a double-double at 19.5 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per contest, while sophomore point guard Philip Owens II (14 ppg), sophomore forward Dimitri Sousa (10.8 ppg) and redshirt freshman shooting guard Camryn Fort (10.5 ppg) are all averaging double-digit scoring.
 
Following tomorrow's game the Cavs will return to Wise for a non-conference matchup against National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Montreat College (N.C.) Thursday at 7 p.m.