GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – UVA Wise suffered a close road loss to Tusculum Wednesday night, 86-84, inside the Pioneer Arena. Redshirt sophomore Briggs Parris netted a career-high 36 points on 11-of-13 shooting, 8-for-10 from three-point range, in the loss.

The Cavaliers (4-6, 1-4 SAC) held the lead most of the second half but a late rally by the Pioneers (8-4, 3-1 SAC) secured the two-point win for Tusculum.

UVA Wise claimed an early lead, up 8-5 over the Pioneers, with 15:34 on the clock. Tusculum gained the advantage shortly after with the two teams tying the contest twice before the Pioneers took a 20-17 advantage with 10:30 left in the opening frame. A three-pointer off the hands of Parris gave UVA Wise its largest lead of the half, up 30-24 over the Pioneers at the 7:25 mark. A 12-0 run for Tusculum gave the Pioneers a six-point advantage with 5:19 to go as the Cavs trailed 36-30. Another three-point shot by Parris put UVA Wise up by one, but a late bucket by Tusculum gave them a 40-39 advantage at the break.

The Cavs shot 52 percent (14-for-27) from the field, 50 percent (5-for-10) from three-point range, and went 6-for-7 at the charity stripe (86 percent) to start the game. UVA Wise dished out 11 assists led by senior Chance Sheffey who had four in the first half. Parris led all scorers in the opening frame with 19 points while sophomore Cameron Whiteside followed with six points.

Parris tied the game early in the second half on a shot from behind the arc with a bucket by freshman Izeah Parker giving the Cavs the lead, 44-42 with just over 19 minutes left in the game. UVA Wise extended their lead to an eight-point advantage, 60-52, with 12:48 to go on a jumper by redshirt junior Yesid Mosquera-Perea. The Cavs gained their first double-digit lead with 7:28 to go as UVA Wise led Tusculum 75-65 with 5:37 to play.

A late bucket by Tusculum put the Pioneers ahead by one point, 82-81, with 1:41 on the clock. UVA Wise trailed the Pioneers by four with just under 10 seconds with a late three-pointer by Parris putting the Cavs down by one with three seconds left, but the comeback would fall short as Tusculum secured an 86-84 victory at the foul line.

Parris had 17 points in the closing half while Whiteside posted 16 points. Senior Chance Sheffey added eight points and five rebounds in the second frame. The Cavs finished the second half shooting 55.6 percent (15-for-27) from the floor, 66.7 percent (6-for-9) from downtown, and 69.2 percent (9-for-13) from the charity stripe.

Whiteside recorded 22 points behind Parris' career-high while Sheffey registered 10 points and a game-high eight boards and eight assists. Whiteside added four steals and five rebounds while connecting on 8-of-15 from the field.

The Cavs finished the night shooting 53.7 percent (29-for-54) from the field, 57.9 percent (11-for-19) from three, and 75 percent (15-for-20) from the free throw line. Tusculum narrowly won the rebounding battle 36-32 while UVA Wise recorded 20 assists.

Head coach Blake Mellinger's team will return to Wise for Kids Day as the Cavs host Ohio University – Chillicothe for a 12 p.m. tip Thursday.