Box Score BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – UVa-Wise men's basketball dropped a 79-65 decision to West Virginia Wesleyan Saturday evening in Buckhannon, West Virginia. The host Bobcats (13-9, 8-8 MEC) shot an astounding 63 percent (31-for-49) for the game, including 70 percent (16-for-23) in the second half, to defeat the visiting Cavaliers (3-19, 1-15 MEC).
 
The Cavs were outscored by seven points in each half and were out-rebound 30-22 despite shooting 50 percent (14-for-28) in the second half. Poor three-point shooting burdened UVa-Wise for the second game in a row as the Cavs went 6-for-25 (24 percent) from beyond the arc.
 
UVa-Wise never led in the game but remained within reaching distance of West Virginia Wesleyan after a layup by sophomore forward Dimitri Sousa (São Paulo, Brazil) made it a three-point game at 20-17 with 7:14 to go in the opening half. A quick five points by the Bobcats pushed the home team's lead back to eight before the Cavs worked their way back to cut the advantage down to 27-24 at the 2:12 mark of the half.
 
A three-pointer by sophomore transfer guard Demarcus Edwards (Mount Vernon, Va.) made it a two-point game at 29-27 with only 46 seconds remaining in the first half. However, a conventional three-point play by West Virginia Wesleyan senior forward Tanner McGrew and a layup at the first-half buzzer by the Bobcats' Ja'Sahn Johnson made it a seven-point 34-27 deficit for the Cavs at the break.
 
The Cavs went 11-for-28 (39 percent) from the field in the first half and were 4-for-15 (27 percent) from outside, while West Virginia Wesleyan shot 58 percent (15-for-26) – including 50 percent (3-for-6) from distance – in the opening 20 minutes of play. The Bobcats out-rebounded the Cavs 15-8 in the opening half as the two teams combined for just 11 total fouls.
 
It took both teams nearly two minutes before any points were scored in the second half. A corner three-pointer by Sousa reduced the margin to 34-30 with 18:16 to go but the Cavs would only score three more points over the next six minutes. West Virginia Wesleyan went on a 17-3 run from the 18:16 mark to the 12:07 mark to balloon its lead to 18 at 51-33.
 
UVa-Wise got within 14 points with 10:44 remaining after a conventional three-point play by redshirt sophomore Corey Dick (Whitsett, N.C.) and a pair of made free-throws by Sousa due to a technical foul called on West Virginia Wesleyan's Garrett Grantham. The Bobcats would increase their lead to as much as 21 points before the Cavs went on a 13-3 run to cut the deficit to 11 at 72-61 with 2:05 to go. A layup by senior forward Matt Day (Buckhorn, Ky.) with 1:31 left made it an 11-point game for the second time at 74-63, but it was too little too late for the Cavs as the Bobcats held on for the 14-point win.
 
The Cavs shot 45 percent (25-for-56) for the game and finished 9-for-11 (82 percent) at the foul line.
 
Sousa led the Cavs with 24 points while Day earned 22 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Philip Owens II (Virginia Beach, Va.) went scoreless in the game but dished out a career-high 12 assists.
 
West Virginia Wesleyan was led by McGrew with 28 points and eight rebounds, while Chris Dewberry scored 25 points. The Bobcats' Grantham collected 12 points, seven assists and six boards.
 
The Cavs now have a five-day break from competition before returning to road play next Thursday night for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off at fourth-ranked Wheeling Jesuit University.
 
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