FAIRMONT, W.Va. – In the midst of its second three-game road trip in the month of January, UVa-Wise men's basketball faces second-ranked Fairmont State University in a road contest Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
Storylines – at No. 2 Fairmont State University
For the fifth time this season the Cavaliers will face a team ranked in the top 25 and for the third time, take on a top-10 team on the road. Fairmont State enters Saturday's game ranked No. 2 in the nation according to the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II poll. UVa-Wise has also faced then fourth-ranked West Liberty University (L, 98-71) and then sixth-ranked Wheeling Jesuit University (L, 88-81 OT) in road matchups this year. The Cavs are seeking their first win against a ranked opponent since Dec. 20, 2015, when UVa-Wise upset then 14th-ranked Lincoln Memorial University 100-87 inside the David J. Prior Convocation Center.
 
The Fighting Falcons defeated the Cavs 103-79 in Wise at the beginning of the year on Jan. 3. Fairmont State was ranked No. 2 in the nation at the time of that game as well. Shooting 52.9 percent from the field and making 12 3-pointers, Fairmont State was dominant on the glass and owned a 47-27 rebounding advantage that included 17 offensive boards. Five different Fighting Falcons scored in double figures, while Fairmont State transfer redshirt junior forward Taiwo Badmus (London, England) scored 22 points and collected six rebounds against his former team to lead the Cavs. Freshman guard Chance Sheffey (Staunton, Va.) posted 17 points and six rebounds in the loss and redshirt sophomore forward Dimitri Sousa (São Paulo, Brazil) finished with 15 points and three assists.
 
UVa-Wise is 2-5 against Fairmont State since joining the Mountain East Conference after sweeping the Fighting Falcons during the 2013-14 season. Fairmont State is currently on a five-game win streak in the series.
 
In head coach Jerrod Calhoun's fifth season, the Fighting Falcons sit atop the MEC standings and have won 19 consecutive games, holding an unblemished 13-0 record in league play.
 
Five different Fairmont State players are averaging double-figure scoring led by senior forward Matt Bingaya's 20.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Fighting Falcon senior guard Shammgod Wells and Cavalier freshman point guard Michal Seals (Lancaster, Pa.) are two of the top assists makers in the conference, averaging 6.3 and 5.7 assists per contest respectively.
 
About UVa-Wise
After winning back-to-back games for the first time since November of 2013, UVa-Wise found themselves on the losing end of an 81-66 decision Thursday night at Shepherd University. The Rams made 14 3-pointers and shot 50.8 percent from the field, including 58.6 percent (17-of-29) in the first half. Badmus was held to just eight points and two field goals, while Seals tied his career high with a game-high tying 24 points.
 
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