JEFFERSON CITY, TENN. — Although sophomore guard Isaiah McAmis scored a career-high 16 points against the King University Tornado tonight, the Cavs weren't able to seal the deal tonight in the season opener and were defeated 95-79 in Holt Fieldhouse.
McAmis and Kaeleb Carter led the night for the Cavs with 16 points apiece, giving McAmis the most he's scored in his UVA Wise career thus far. Following close behind was freshman Joel Pettiford, who racked up a solid 13 points in his first appearance in a Cavs uniform. Makai Vassell, another new face for the Cavs, picked up a game-high eight rebounds while teammate McAmis once again made the leaderboards with a career-high five rebounds.
The Cavs opened up the scoring of the night with a quick 3-pointer by Kaeleb Carter by the help of an early turnover by King. Isaiah Curry of the Tornado responded with a layup in the paint to come within one of the Cavs. But Carter had other plans, and slammed a fastbreak dunk less than two minutes after tipoff. Momentum fell for the Cavs, and King's Connor Jordan produced a jumper and a layup to take a 6-5 lead. Another contribution by Carter kept the Cavs at bay, but King's Michael Mays dropped a three-pointer to get ahead. King and UVA Wise efforts were head-to-head until the 7:35 mark, where King's Darron Howard drained a jumper and within the next 20 seconds, teammate Blake Atwood drove in a layup. Howard once again found himself with the ball and sank another 3-point shot to coax a UVA Wise timeout.
With less than six minutes to go in the first half, a dunk by freshman Jeff Jackson Jr. refreshed the Cavs and put them within six points. King's 3-point powerhouse Mays struck again, this time putting the Tornado ahead with a nine-point lead. UVA Wise freshman Cameron McCravy put up a jumper to chop the lead down to seven, but back-to-back Mays shots from downtown deterred a Cavs comeback. At the end of the first half, the Cavs were down by 10.
After the break, Mays once again produced a slew of points for King, scoring seven points by the 17:06 mark. Later, the Cavs found themselves down by 18 after 6 minutes of second-half play led by efforts of Curry, Mays, and Jordan. The largest lead of the night came at the 4:42 mark, where a three-pointer by Desmond Davis secured a 23-point Tornado lead. The Cavs began to chip away at the lead with Carter from the 3-point line and freshman Yacinthe Kervens in the paint. With less than three minutes left to go in the game, freshman Caleb Lominac made his Cavalier appearance and threw up a layup at the 2:18, and was fouled with 46 seconds to go. Two good-to-go free throws and a three-pointer by Zachary Owens gave the Cavs five late points in the end, but ended a night with a loss by King, 95-77.
Your UVA Wise Highland Cavaliers will be back in action tomorrow, Nov. 14 as the take on the Lees-McRae Bobcats with a 2:00 PM tipoff.
For all Cavalier news, statistics, and more, visit www.uvawisecavs.com.
