WISE - - The UVa-Wise athletic department announced a radio partnership Monday with WLSD Radio (92.5 FM, 1220 AM and wlsdradio.com) which will expand the Cavalier Sports Network throughout Wise County, Lee County and surrounding areas in Southwest Virginia.

UVa-Wise Athletics has agreed with WLSD to serve as the host for the 2018-19 men's and women's basketball season while providing live coverage of each road conference game for the men's and women's basketball programs. The station will also cover the teams in this year's Mountain East Conference Tournament scheduled for March 6 – 10 in Wheeling, W.Va.

"We're excited to partner with WLSD to deliver our broadcasts to Cavalier supporters," UVa-Wise Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications Darrell Ely said in a statement released by the school. "This agreement will allow us to serve our alumni base and supporters in Wise County and surrounding areas while allowing friends and family from around the country to follow our men's and women's teams on the road through the station's online streaming component."

Founded in Aug. 1953, WLSD primarily serves the counties of Wise, Lee, Scott and Dickenson in far Southwest Virginia.  The AM station provides 1,000 watt daytime coverage with a 250 watt translator on FM while also providing streaming coverage online.

The first broadcast of the season will be Saturday, Dec. 1 when UVa-Wise travels to the University of Charleston for a doubleheader with the women's game tipping at 2 p.m. Each broadcast will begin with a pregame show 15 minutes prior to the start of the women's game.

Longtime Voice of the Cavaliers Steve Curran will serve as the play-by-play voice for the men's games with Southwest Virginia native Zach Helton serving as the color commentator. During women's games, Helton will handle play-by-play duties with Curran taking over color commentator responsibilities.

For sponsorship opportunities on the Cavalier Sports Network please contact Director of Athletic Development Bill Wendle at (276) 376-3434 or wdw8m@uvawise.edu