WISE - - UVa-Wise dropped its first conference game of the season to the University of Charleston on Saturday afternoon, 78-75, inside the David J. Prior Convocation Center. The Cavaliers (4-5, 3-1 MEC) shot just 24-for-65 (36.9 percent) from the field while the Golden Eagles (6-3, 2-2 MEC) went 27-for-61 (44.3 percent) on the night. The Cavs kept it close the majority of the game, but costly fouls and missed shots in the final minutes of the game gave Charleston the advantage.

The Cavaliers struggled from the floor, shooting 11-for-33 (33.3 percent) in the first half. UVa-Wise took an early eight point lead to get the game started with the score at 12-4 with 14:02 on the clock. The Golden Eagles took their first lead of the night, 22-21, with 7:39 to go in the first. Charleston would maintain the lead throughout the rest of the half, up by as many as seven, 35-28, with a little over two minutes to go. A three-pointer by sophomore guard Michal Seals would take the Cavs into the half down by three, 37-34.

Charleston went 3-for-11 (27.3 percent) from three-point range while UVa-Wise hit just 6-of-17 (35.3 percent). The Golden Eagles outscored the Cavaliers in the paint 22-10 in the opening half with Charleston adding 13 points from off the bench while the Cavaliers were assisted by six bench points.

A layup by Tajh Eason would give the Cavs the lead to start the second half, 37-36. Sophomore forward Yesid Mosquera-Perea would get open for a three to extend the lead to four points, 41-37, with 18:07 to go. The Cavs would gain another four point lead, 54-50, at the 10:09 mark behind a free throw shot by sophomore guard Chance Sheffey.

The Cavs and Charleston would continue to battle, with a three-pointer by Michal Seals tying the game up at 66-66 with just under three minutes to play. Two free throw shots by Charleston's Kier Anderson would give the Golden Eagles a six point lead, but Cavalier men leading scorer Taiwo Badmus cut the lead to three, hitting a shot from downtown.

The Cavs would get within two points, but were unable to complete the comeback, falling 78-74 to Charleston. The Golden Eagles would get 16 more points from the bench, with both teams scoring 12 points from inside the paint in the second half.

Charleston finished with 34 points in the paint and 29 from the bench. Both teams had trouble shooting from beyond the arc, with UVa-Wise shooting 11-for-33 (33.3 percent) and Charleston going 4-for-18 (22.2 percent) from downtown.

Charleston's Kier Anderson led all scorers with 34 points on 12-of-17 shooting, 2-for-4 from downtown and 8-for-9 from the free throw line. Jonathan Tshibuy added a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Golden Eagles.

Badmus and Seals led the Cavaliers, recording 17 points apiece. Seals finished the night with a double-double, adding 11 assists.  Mosquera-Perea had 14 points, shooting 5-for-9 from the floor. Sheffey had 10 points on the night with five rebounds and four assists.

The Cavaliers will be back in action on Wednesday, Dec. 6, as they host West Virginia Wesleyan inside the David J. Prior Convocation Center with game time scheduled for 7:30 p.m.