BANNER ELK, N.C. – Men's basketball dropped its second game of the weekend to Lees-McRae College, 89-78, Saturday afternoon as the Cavaliers wrapped up play in the Conference Carolinas/South Atlantic Conference Challenge.
Lees-McRae (2-0) took an early lead to open the game but a three-pointer by sophomore Kaeleb Carter put UVa-Wise (0-2) within two points, 11-9, with 15 minutes on the clock. The Bobcats went ahead by seven points a minute later but the Cavs rallied to take a one point advantage after redshirt junior Yesid Mosquera-Perea knocked down a pair of free throws, 17-16.
The two teams tied the game at 23 apiece before Lees-McRae pulled ahead of the Cavs, gaining a 40-32 lead with 4:31 to go in the half. The Bobcats took their largest lead of the first half with just under a minute to play, up 47-36, as freshman Izeah Parker closed out the half connecting from the charity stripe with the Cavs trailing 47-37 into the half.
UVa-Wise shot 38.9 percent (14-for-36) from the floor and connected on just one three-point shot (1-13) to start the game.
Lees-McRae went on a run to open the second half, going ahead by 20 points, 57-37, with just over 16 minutes to play. Back-to-back shots for sophomore Cameron Whiteside and Parris put UVa-Wise down by 14, 61-47, later in the game.
The Bobcats held a double-digit lead for much of the second half until a late rally by the Cavs cut the deficit to seven points, 83-76, with 1:24 to go, but Lees-McRae would go on to take the game 89-78.
Whiteside finished with 21 points on 10-of-19 shooting alongside seven rebounds and four steals. Senior Chance Sheffey (13) and sophomore Kaeleb Carter (10) both scored in double figures for the Cavs while Sheffey posted a team-high five assists and Carter added three boards and three assists. Redshirt sophomore Briggs Parris tallied eight points while freshman Izeah Parker and sophomore Josh Thomas each added seven points.
The Cavs shot 31-for-75 (41.3 percent) from the floor, connecting on just 6-of-30 (20 percent) from downtown. UVa-Wise went 10-for-18 (55.6 percent) at the charity stripe and totaled 15 assists and 10 steals in the loss. The team also won the rebounding battle 36-34 over Lees-McRae with senior Eric Okenchi and Parker posting five boards apiece.
Head coach Blake Mellinger's team will host Piedmont International University Tuesday night in the team's home opener with tip scheduled for 6 p.m. inside the David J. Prior Convocation Center.
