WISE - - Behind redshirt senior forward Taiwo Badmus' season-high 38 points, the Cavaliers defeated Fairmont State University, 90-82, on Thursday night. UVa-Wise (10-13, 8-9 MEC) outrebounded the Fighting Falcons 49-32 and shot 47.8 percent (33-for-69) from the field to earn the upset win.

UVa-Wise and Fairmont State (17-6, 13-4 MEC) kept it close throughout the first half with the Fighting Falcons taking their largest lead of the half with 14:28 on the clock, 16-11. Badmus was hot early for the Cavaliers as the forward netted 16 points with 10:31 still left to play in the half.

The opening half would see 12 lead changes as Fairmont State took its final lead of the game at the 5:49 mark in the first, up 33-32 over the Cavs. Two free throw shots by Badmus with 1:15 to go in the half would give the Cavs a five-point advantage, 40-36. A 3-pointer by Fairmont's Caleb Davis would send UVa-Wise into the half with a two-point advantage over the Fighting Falcons, 41-39.

The Cavs shot 48.5 percent (16-for-33) from the floor in the first half while Fairmont State went 13-for-30 (43.3 percent) to start the game. The Fighting Falcons were aided by six shots from downtown, going 50 percent from beyond the arc.

Badmus closed out the half with 20 points and eight rebounds followed by sophomore point guard Michal Seals who had eight points, five rebounds, and two assists. Fairmont was led in scoring by D'Ondre Stockman who had 10 points and five rebounds while Caleb Davis posted nine points in the opening half.

UVa-Wise held the lead for the majority of the second half with a pair of free throw shots by Badmus giving the Cavs a six-point lead, 54-48, at the 15:05 mark. Fairmont would chip away at the lead to tie the ball game up at 56 apiece with 13:49 left to go.

The Cavs slowly began to break away with a dunk by Badmus giving UVa-Wise an eight-point advantage, 66-58, with 10:20 on the clock. The Fighting Falcons would cut away at the Cavs lead again, getting within one point, 80-79, with just over three minutes to play.

UVa-Wise would take a four-point lead behind a 3-pointer by Badmus, 83-79, with 2:50 to go. The Cavs would extend their lead with a couple of free throw shots by Seals as UVa-Wise earned a tough 90-82 victory.

Badmus put up 18 more points in the second half while Mosquera-Perea had 14 points. The Cavs shot 17-for-36 (47.2 percent) in the half while Fairmont went 16-for-39 (41 percent) from the field.

Fairmont State's Jason Jolly and Caleb Davis were the leading scorers for the Fighting Falcons with both players netting 16 points in the game. Stockman had 15 points for Fairmont while R.J. Hutcherson finished with 13 points in the loss.

Badmus led all scorers with his 38 points and added 13 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Mosquera-Perea followed with 20 points and six rebounds while Seals finished with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds alongside six assists. Sheffey edged a double-double as he posted 10 points and seven rebounds in the win.

UVa-Wise will remain home as the team faces Shepherd University on Saturday afternoon. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. inside the David J. Prior Convocation Center.