JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - - The Cavaliers rallied on the road Wednesday night, but were outlasted by Carson-Newman University 90-83 in a non-conference matchup. Junior guard Michal Seals posted a season-high 28 points and added nine assists and six rebounds.

Seals game-high 28 points led the charge for the Cavs (5-6) while junior guard Chance Sheffey, redshirt freshman guard Briggs Parris, and junior forward Eric Okenchi all scored in double-figures for UVa-Wise. Okenchi finished with 14 points while Sheffey had 13 points and Parris netted 11 points in the loss.

Sheffey and Seals got the night started on back-to-back three balls for the Cavs. Carson-Newman (8-4) would trail by one with 15:46 on the clock before the Eagles gained their first lead of the night, 9-8, with a little over 15 minutes to play in the half.

The Eagles would heat up from the floor, taking a double-digit lead with 12:25 on the clock, 19-8. Seals and Parris would each connect on a shot from downtown, cutting the Cavs deficit to 12 points, 31-19, with 7:31 to go.

After trailing by as much as 16 points, UVa-Wise would utilize a 5-0 run to cut the Eagles lead before ending the half on a late bucket by freshman forward Kaeleb Carter as UVa-Wise entered into halftime down by nine, 44-35.

Seals led the Cavs scoring in the opening half with 11 points and added five assists. Sheffey, freshman guard Cameron Whiteside, and Okenchi each had five points while Okenchi also grabbed five boards in the half. UVa-Wise struggled from the floor shooting just 36.4 percent (12-for-33) from the field while recording 18 rebounds.

The Eagles would maintain a double-digit lead to start the second half before a pair of free throws by Sheffey put the Cavs down just eight with 16:48 on the clock, 50-42. Carson-Newman would regain and hold onto a double-digit lead for much of the half but six quick points by Seals would put UVa-Wise down by six points, 72-66, with 6:22 on the clock.

Carter would bank in a three ball with a little over five minutes to play to cut the Eagles lead to three points, 72-69. A pair of free throws by Okenchi a minute later would get the Cavs within two points, trailing Carson-Newman 73-71.

Carson-Newman would push their lead back to double-digits late in the half to take an 83-72 advantage with 1:29 to go. UVa-Wise would push to cut the margin to single-digits but would fall short as the Eagles went on to win, 90-83.

Seals posted 17 points in the half while Okenchi recorded nine and Sheffey and Parris both added eight points apiece. UVa-Wise improved from the floor in the second half, shooting 40.6 percent (13-for-32) from the field.

On the night, UVa-Wise went 26-for-65 (38.5 percent) from the field, 12-for-33 (36.4 percent) from beyond the arc. The Cavs were 21-for-24 (87.5 percent) from the free throw line and collected 35 boards. UVa-Wise was assisted with 24 points off the bench along with 22 points inside the paint for the Cavs.

Blake Mellinger's squad will return home as the team jumps back into Mountain East Conference play against Fairmont State on Thursday, Jan. 10. Tip is slated for 7:30 p.m. inside the David J. Prior Convocation Center.