JEFFERSON CITY, TENN. — New Cavalier Jeff Jackson Jr. scored a team-high 12 points in the matchup against Lees-McRae on Sunday afternoon, but the team failed to seal the deal as they lost by 28 to the Bobcats in the finale of the South Atlantic Conference/Conference Carolinas Challenge. 

The UVA Wise Cavaliers (0-2, 0-0 SAC) had a tough day navigating Bobcat defense, as the Cavalier suffered 20 turnovers — 13 in the first half alone. 

In the first half, Lees-McRae (1-1, 0-0 CC) took a substantial lead early with the help of a Timone Jones jumper to grab a 7-2 lead. Freshman Joel Pettiford drew a foul and snagged a pair of free throws to get UVA Wise within three, and veteran Kaeleb Carter threw up a three-point dagger to keep the score even. University of Hartford transfer Cameron McCravey drew a foul to go to the charity stripe and knocked two down, and Jackson Jr. dropped in an easy layup to snag a Cavalier lead — and their only lead of the day. All looked promising for the Cavaliers, but that feeling soon faded as the Bobcats scored the next eight points in the game, and eventually held the Cavs to a score of 43-28 with a minute to go in the half. 

Coming into the second half, Carter was able to throw up a layup but not after London England of the Bobcats sank a three-pointer at the 19:35 mark. 

Towards the end of the second half, the Bobcats had taken control in Holt Fieldhouse and found themselves ahead of the Cavs by 31 points — their highest lead in the game thus far. Cavalier Kervens Yacinthe was reliable at the free-throw line and freshman Caleb Lominac dropped in a layup with 20 seconds to go, but the deficit was too large and Lees-McRae took home to the W by a score of 80-52.

The UVA Wise Cavaliers were 19-60 from field goal range and 2-18 from the arc. Carter and Jackson Jr. were the only two Cavs to score in double-digits.

Malik McConnell of the Bobcats was the leading scorer of the day, grabbing 15 points. 

The Cavaliers will be back on the court on Wednesday, Nov. 17 as they take on the Limestone Saints in Gaffney, S.C. for a 7:30 tipoff.
 

For all Cavalier news, statistics, and more, visit www.uvawisecavs.com.