WISE, Va. – UVa-Wise men's basketball plays its final game of 2015 and the last non-conference game of the season Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. against former conference foe and rival King University.
 
Storylines – vs. King University
The Cavaliers face the 14th-ranked Tornado for the fifth time since 2013. UVa-Wise was defeated both times a year ago, falling 85-45 in Bristol, Tennessee, before losing an 88-49 decision in Wise. Both games last season were played in the month of December as the second game on Dec. 18 in the David J. Prior Convocation Center was King University Head Coach George Pitts' 1,000th career coaching win (college and high school combined). Prior to last year's two losses to the Tornado, UVa-Wise was on a three-game winning streak against King, getting wins on the road in November of 2012 (79-77) and 2013 (74-64) before earning a 68-65 victory at home in December of 2013.
 
King started the season 6-0 and was ranked as high as No. 7 in the national coaches' poll but has lost two of its last four games, at home to Emmanuel (Ga.) (71-59) and on the road at Tusculum (99-94). The Tornado opened up their season by taking down then fifth-ranked Lincoln Memorial University 83-69 in Bristol.
 
Averaging 42.4 rebounds per game and 83.4 points per game, the Tornado are led by junior forward Hunter LeVeau (15.7 ppg) and junior guard C.J. Good (14.7 ppg). Senior forward Drew Standifer leads the team in rebounding at 5.8 rebounds per game, followed closely by LeVeau with 5.7 rebounds per game. Senior point guard Calvin Walker is averaging a team-high 4.4 assists per game.
 
About UVa-Wise
UVa-Wise Head Coach Blake Mellinger is 2-2 all-time versus the Tornado. The Cavs are seeking their second win of the season and will attempt to stop a three-game skid.
 
Most recently the Cavs were edged 90-83 in overtime by NCAA Division III opponent Averett University Thursday afternoon in Wise. UVa-Wise only made one free throw and one basket in the extra five minutes of play after sophomore guard Philip Owens II missed a game-winning jumper in the closing seconds of regulation with the score tied at 80-80.
 
Senior forward Matt Day recorded his fifth double-double of the season in Thursday night's game with a game-high 28 points and 12 rebounds. Day has now moved into 20th-place on UVa-Wise's all-time scoring list with 1,146 career points. Redshirt sophomore guard Ricardo Hill Jr. had perhaps his best game in a Cavalier uniform against Averett, recording a career-high nine assists and four steals, while grabbing a career-high tying five rebounds to go along with five points and a block.
 
Following Sunday's contest the Cavs will have a 15-day break for Christmas and New Year's before returning to competition Monday, Jan. 4, at Fairmont State.