WISE, Va. – UVa-Wise men's basketball continues its four-game Mountain East Conference homestand Thursday afternoon with a 4 p.m. matchup against Shepherd University.
 
Storylines – vs. Shepherd University
Currently sitting in sixth place in the MEC standings with a 3-2 league mark and a 6-5 overall record, the Rams have gone 4-2 in road contests this season. Shepherd has earned away wins at West Virginia Wesleyan (78-61), Chestnut Hill College (78-57), The Lincoln University (60-50) and Concord University (87-74) this season and will be wrapping up a four-game road swing Thursday night.
 
UVa-Wise and the Rams have already faced two common opponents in Glenville State College and West Virginia Wesleyan. The Cavs lost both of those games, being edged 77-70 by West Virginia Wesleyan at home on Nov. 30 and falling 82-74 at Glenville State on Dec. 3. On the contrary, Shepherd was on the winning side of both contests, defeating the Pioneers at home in a close, 89-86 victory before earning the 17-point road win against the Bobcats.
 
UVa-Wise is 0-6 against the Rams since joining the MEC but both of last year's contests were decided by five points or less. Shepherd defeated the Cavs 99-94 in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, almost exactly one year ago on Jan. 6, 2016, before UVa-Wise was narrowly defeated 85-82 in Wise later in the month. In that game, the Cavs got the ball back with eight seconds remaining trailing by just three after a missed free throw by Shepherd, but were unable to get a shot off before the buzzer sounded.
 
The Rams are guided by ninth-year head coach Justin Namolik who has led Shepherd to five-straight winning seasons and an 85-70 mark since the 2011-12 season.
 
Four different players are averaging double-figure scoring for the Rams this season, including junior guard Steffen Davis (16.8 ppg), junior forward AJ Carr (13.3 ppg), senior guard Naim Muhammad (10.5 ppg) and junior guard Skyler Roman (10.4 ppg). UVa-Wise freshman point guard Michal Seals (Lancaster, Pa.) (5.6 apg) and Shepherd's Muhammad (5.5 apg) and are two of the top assists makers in the conference, ranking third and fourth respectively.
 
About UVa-Wise
UVa-Wise is trying to snap a two-game skid with its most recent loss coming Tuesday night versus second-ranked Fairmont State University (103-79). Redshirt junior forward Taiwo Badmus (London, England) scored 22 points against his former team but the Fighting Falcons proved why they are ranked No. 2 nationally, shooting 52.9 percent (37-of-70) from the field and outrebounding the Cavs 47-27.
 
UVa-Wise is seeking its first league win of the season as defense has been an issue for the Cavs, giving up 88.6 points per contest through 11 games this season.
 
Fairmont State transfer Badmus has scored in double figures in all but one game this season and has tallied 20 points or more in seven different contests. His 21.2 points per game average is third-best in the MEC.
 
With classes out until Tuesday, Dec. 10, admission is FREE to Thursday night's doubleheader with the women's game starting at 2 p.m.
 
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