WISE, VA - The UVA Wise Highland Cavaliers weren't able to keep up with a second-half Carson-Newman run and fell to the Eagles 83-64 in the Davis J. Prior Convocation Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8.

The UVA Wise Cavaliers (0-9, 0-7 SAC) and the Carson-Newman Eagles (6-3, 4-2 SAC) played an evenly-matched first half, with the Cavs taking their first lead of the day at the 14:53 mark due to a quick bucket by leading Cavs-scorer Joel Pettiford. The 6-7 freshman put up 10 points and snagged four rebounds in the first half, putting the Cavs within reach of a lead as time expired. Yet, in the final two minutes of the half, the Eagles' Tripp Davis and EJ Bush each put up a jumper to aid their squad to a five-point lead at the break.

The Cavaliers struggled once again from the arc - a common difficulty that has followed the Cavs throughout their season. In the first 20 minutes of play, UVA Wise only connected on three of 11 shots from three-point range. On the same hand, the Eagles only were able to put up two of 10 from the arc in the first half.

Within the first two minutes back in the action, Carson-Newman attempted an early pull-away from the Cavaliers with a Davis layup — but a pull-up jumper from Bradley Dean, a layup from Ben Bryson, and a bucket from the charity stripe from Pettiford kept the Cavs breathing and put them within three of the Eagles at the 17:07 mark. 

Although Carson-Newman's shooting percentage from three-point range made very little improvements in the second half, their six shots from downtown helped propel them to a substantial lead from the Cavs at the 10-minute mark. UVA Wise was not able to profit off of a single three-pointer in the second half, going 0-10. The Eagles' largest lead came at the 4:15 mark, as a jumper by John Zhao put them up 25 points. Carson-Newman went home with the win, 83-64.

Four Cavs made it into double-digits against the Eagles — Pettford, Dean, Bryson, and Carter. Bryson and Pettford each ended the night with eight rebounds to add to their statbook, and McAmis racked up five assists along with teammate Carter. 

The Cavaliers next will head to Emory, Va. to face the Emory & Henry Wasps on Saturday, Dec. 11 with a noon tipoff.