Storylines – vs TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY
Tusculum hosts UVA Wise Tuesday night in the Pioneers' second home game to start the season after beating Wingate University Saturday afternoon, 87-75. Tusculum had five players score in double-digits against the Bulldogs, led by Trenton Gibson's 14 points. Gibson went 9-for-10 from the line Saturday and added six rebounds and six assists in the win. Head coach J.T. Burton's team closed out last season with an 19-13 overall mark and a 13-9 record in South Atlantic Conference play. Coach Burton's team advanced to the SAC tournament picking up a win over Anderson in the quarterfinals round, 86-65, before being defeated by the reigning tournament champions, Lincoln Memorial, in the semifinals. The Pioneers were tabbed fourth in this year's SAC preseason poll and bring back nine players including two starters. Gibson returns to the lineup after serving as the leading scorer for his squad a season ago, averaging 13.6 points per game while being named a preseason All-SAC second team selection. Senior Brandon Mitchell also returns to the roster after ranking third in the SAC last season with his 7.8 rebounds per game. Coach Burton's squad will be back in action Wednesday to take on Furman University in an exhibition tilt.
About UVA Wise
With the start of the season altered due to COVID-19 concerns, UVA Wise men's basketball will finally return to the court Tuesday night for an 8 p.m. season opener at Tusculum. Head coach Blake Mellinger brings back six letter winners from last year including two of the Cavs leading scorers in juniors
Cameron Whiteside and
Briggs Parris. Whiteside had a prolific campaign during his sophomore season at UVA Wise, emerging as the top scorer in the South Atlantic Conference, averaging 20.8 points per game on the year. Parris also served as a leading scorer for the Cavs last year adding 13.8 ppg and boasting a team-high 40.2 percent from beyond the arc while averaging 2.9 three-pointers a game. Tuesday's conference opener against Tusculum will be the third meeting between the two programs since the Cavs entered the SAC as the Pioneers swept the series last season. The two teams first met as conference foes this past December with the Cavs falling by two on the road, 86-84, as Parris erupted to set career-highs in points, minutes, and field goals. Parris tallied 36 points on 11 field goals in 40 minutes that game while his eight made three-pointers was just one shy of the career-high he set in his freshman debut. Following Tuesday night's contest, the Cavs will travel back to Wise to prepare for Saturday's 4:30 p.m. home opener against Coker.
