WINGATE, N.C. – UVA Wise fell in another hard-fought road battle Saturday afternoon as the Bulldogs of Wingate University edged the Cavaliers, 77-74. Sophomore Cameron Whiteside posted a career-high 35 points on a career-high 13 field goals. The 6-foot-4 guard also connected on a career-high five three-point field goals and added a career-high 12 rebounds and two blocks as the Cavs were outlasted by the Bulldogs inside the Cuddy Arena.

Wingate's (7-7, 3-5 SAC) first point of the night came at the free throw line but redshirt sophomore Briggs Parris' triple put UVA Wise (5-9, 1-7 SAC) in front early. The Cavs extended their lead on two more three-pointers by redshirt junior Yesid Mosquera-Perea and Whiteside and a bucket by senior Chance Sheffey for a double-digit advantage, 11-1, with just under 15 minutes to play in the opening frame.

The Bulldogs scored nine consecutive points to get back in the game, 11-10, with 11:38 on the clock. Wingate gained the lead with 6:45 to go, 20-19, but freshman Izeah Parker tied the game at the foul line before Mosquera-Perea put UVA Wise back on top, 22-20.

UVA Wise maintained the lead until a late three-point shot by the Bulldogs put them back in front as Wingate took a three point advantage, 36-33, into the break.

Whiteside opened the game with 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting alongside seven rebounds and two steals. Mosquera-Perea posted eight points on 3-of-5 shooting, 2-for-3 from downtown. The Cavaliers shot 39.9 percent (11-for-28) from the floor, 50 percent (4-for-8) from behind the arc, and 77.8 percent (7-for-9) from the charity stripe.

Wingate pushed the margin to five points at the top of the second half but back-to-back buckets for the Cavs tied the contest at 38-38 with a little under 18 minutes to play. Wingate briefly reclaimed the lead before another three by Whiteside put UVA Wise back on top, 44-43, with 16:38 to go.

UVA Wise extended its advantage back to double-digits with 12:02 to play, 56-46, on another three by Whiteside. After trailing most of the second half, Wingate's Jarren Cottingham scored five straight points to put the Bulldogs back on top, 72-69, with 1:24 on the clock.

Freshman Drew Greene put UVA Wise within one as he connected on a pair free throws, 72-71 with just over a minute to play. Down by three with less than thirty seconds to go, Parris' jumper narrowed the Bulldogs lead to one point once more, 75-74, but the rally fell short as Wingate sealed the victory at the charity stripe with 11 seconds on the clock to pull away with a 77-74 win.

Whiteside poured in 24 points in the closing half on 8-of-11 shooting, 4-for-6 from downtown and added five boards. UVA Wise shot 45.2 percent (14-for-31) from the field, 33.3 percent (5-for-15) from three, and 80 percent (8-for-10) from the free throw line in the second half.

The Cavs shot 42.4 percent (25-for-59) from the floor, 39.1 percent (9-for-23) from behind the arc, and 78.9 percent (15-for-19) at the foul line in the contest. Both teams collected 37 rebounds while the Cavs totaled eight steals and three blocks in the game. Parris finished with 12 points while Mosquera-Perea registered 10 points and three steals. Sheffey tallied nine points and dished out a team-high five assists.

Head coach Blake Mellinger's team returns to Wise to face the Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne University Wednesday night. Tip is slated for 7:30 p.m. inside the David J. Prior Convocation Center.