WISE – The Cavalier men fell to the Bulldogs of Wingate University Saturday afternoon, 83-73, inside the David J. Prior Convocation Center.
The graduating members of the men's team, Chance Sheffey, Yesid Mosquera-Perea, Eric Okenchi, and Tajh Eason, were also recognized for Senior Day.
UVA Wise (5-21, 1-19 SAC) and Wingate (12-14, 7-13 SAC) traded buckets to open the game before back-to-back three-point shots by redshirt junior Yesid Mosquera-Perea and redshirt sophomore Briggs Parris pushed the Cavs ahead by seven, 23-16, midway through the first frame.
The Bulldogs responded with a 7-0 run down the stretch to take a four-point lead, 30-26, with less than five minutes to play in the half. UVA Wise trailed by double-digits late as Wingate took its largest lead of the frame with a 12-point advantage, 43-31 at the 2:26 mark. A last-second heave from half court by sophomore Cameron Whiteside cut the margin to seven points for Wingate as the Cavs trailed 47-40 heading into the break.
Parris and Whiteside each posted a team-high 12 points to start while senior Eric Okenchi recorded six points and a team-high four rebounds in the first half. UVA Wise shot 51.7 percent (15-for-29) from the field, 40 percent (4-for-10) from three, and connected on 6-of-9 (66.7 percent) at the charity stripe.
Down by 10 to start the second half, UVA Wise climbed from behind to pull within three points before Parris converted on a fastbreak layup to put the Cavs down by just one point, 54-53 with 15:49 to play. Wingate led throughout the half, regaining a double-digit advantage with 3:48 on the clock with the Cavs down 78-68.
The Bulldogs remained in control for the remaining minutes in the final frame as Wingate held on for an 83-73 victory.
Whiteside netted double-digit points again in the second frame with a team-leading 11 points and added five rebounds and four assists. Okenchi led the Cavs with six rebounds in the half while he, Sheffey, and Parris each had five points.
UVA Wise struggled from the free throw line to close out the game, making just 6-of-12 (50 percent) while shooting 41.4 percent (12-for-29) from the floor.
Whiteside finished with a game-high 23 points on 7-of-14 shooting and posted eight rebounds and six assists. Parris registered 17 points while Okenchi finished with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Sheffey and Mosquera-Perea each tallied eight points while Sheffey added a game-high seven assists. Freshman Izeah Parker rounded out the scoring with six points and grabbed four boards in the loss.
On the day, UVA Wise shot 46.6 percent (27-for-58) from the field, 33.3 percent (7-for-21) from three, and 57.1 percent (12-for-21) from the foul line.
The Cavs outscored the Bulldogs in the paint 32-28 and recorded 23 bench points and 13 points off of turnovers.
Head coach Blake Mellinger's team will stay home to take on the Carson-Newman Eagles Wednesday night with tip slated for 7:30 p.m. inside the David J. Prior Convocation Center.
