Storyline – vs. LENOIR-RHYNE

The Lenoir-Rhyne squad crawled their way up a few spots on the South Atlantic Conference leaderboards the past few weeks since UVA Wise and Lenoir-Rhyne saw each other last, going on a four-game win streak (Mars Hill, Tusculum, Limestone, Catawba) until it was broken against Anderson by a score of 69-66. In the Anderson matchup, Bears standout Tj Nesmith dropped 16 points but couldn't overcome a solid performance from Anderson's Parker Dortch in the paint. 

 PLAYERS TO WATCH

TJ Nesmith:  averages 16.0 ppg and 6.6 rpg, scored a season-high 32 points against Catawba just last week (February 9, 2022).

Jalen Johnson: averages 13.6 ppg and 6.1 rpg, scored season-high 34 points against Young Harris on November 13, 2021.

ABOUT UVA WISE

Blake Mellinger's squad had a tough schedule the last week, facing the two top-ranked teams (Lincoln Memorial and Queens) in the South Atlantic Conference just after winning three consecutive games. In their matchup against Queens, the Royals were nearly impeccable from the arc — making 80-percent of their shots from the arc in the first half. The Cavaliers held their ground against the Royals as Joel Pettiford and Makai Vassell dropped 13 points and Isaiah McAmis added his own 11. UVA Wise hit over 40-percent from the field in the first half and held SAC Player of the Week Jay'Den Turner to only ten points. 

Currently, a win from UVA Wise would tie them in the league standings with the Coker Cobras, and would put them ahead of the Cobras overall.