JEFFERSON CITY, TENN — The UVA Wise Cavaliers struggled to suppress a Carson-Newman Eagles second-half rally, falling 80-61 in a South Atlantic Conference rematch in Holt Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Jan. 5.

The UVA Wise Cavaliers (1-13, 0-11 SAC) seemed evenly matched up with the Carson-Newman Eagles (9-5, 6-4 SAC) throughout the first half, with Tyler Lloyd of the Cavs and EJ Bush of the Eagles exchanging shots from the field to keep the score level until the sixth minute - as Ren Dyer led a six-point run to give the Eagles a little breathing room. Grayson Honaker responded with a three-pointer to cut the lead in half, and after back-to-back battles at the basket, a gritty Kaeleb Carter jumper put the Cavs at a three-point deficit at the half. 

After a locker room break, a newly-refreshed Carson-Newman team was able to extend to a 10-point lead after five minutes. Led by leading-scorer Bush, the Eagles put up a 60-percent from the field and a 54.5-percent from the arc, outshooting the Cavaliers in both categories.

As the clock ticked down to the final three minutes, Dyer and Joshuwa Butts put together a posterizing block and four points to solidify a final 19-point final win for the Eagles.

Joel Pettiford led the Cavs with 13 points and seven rebounds on the night, with Lloyd, Honaker, and Carter also snagging over 10 points each. Bradley Dean ended the night with a leading-four assists.

The Cavs will be back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 12 against the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears at home at 7:30 PM.