GREENEVILLE, TENN. — Despite a 20-point career-high from Kervens Yacinthe in his second career start, the UVA Wise Cavaliers (4-23, 3-20 SAC) couldn't hoist themselves over an impressive offensive effort from Tusculum's Trenton Gibson, Joshua Scott, and Justin Mitchell in an 89-62 loss in Pioneer Arena on Wednesday, February 23.

HALF BY HALF:

Yacinthe scored the first eight points for the Cavaliers in the first four minutes of the game. The Tusculum Pioneers (17-7, 17-5 SAC) stayed in tune with the Cavs, with William Vedder putting up four and James West and Brandon Mitchell accounting for two other layups. 

The eleventh minute of the first half changed momentum as the Pioneers' Inady Legiste put up a layup to get a 17-15 lead. Mitchell added another layup, and Jacob Hobbs sank a downtown shot to take a seven-point lead. 

Two points from the free-throw line from Mitchell put Tusculum at a nine-point advantage, but a layup from Joel Pettiford at the 5:56 mark kept Tusculum on their toes. The Cavs took control and went on a six-point consecutive run and found themselves only at a one-point deficit with less than three minutes to go. 

After a hotly-contested rest of the half, a three-pointer at the buzzer from Isaiah McAmis put the Cavaliers within six going into the locker room. 

Tusculum came out gritty in the second half, scoring four points out of the game to solidify a 10-point lead. A perfect outing from the arc from Pioneer KJ Krump aided in a Tusculum lead that spanned from 10 to 29 points over the next 11 minutes. Although the Cavaliers kept crawling back with four field goals from Pettiford and two each from Bradley Dean and Yacinthe, 56 bench points and an over 50-percent performance from the field sealed Tusculum's win, 89-62.

INSIDE THE BOX:

Yacinthe snagged 20 points and three rebounds, while Pettiford added 14 points and eight rebounds.

Dean followed with 12 points; hitting five field goals. McAmis added six points from two three-pointers and four rebounds. 

From Tusculum, Gibson, Scott, and Mitchell each put up 11 points while Legiste scored his own nine. 

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers will head back home to play the Catawba Indians in their last home regular season game against the Catawba Indians on Saturday, February 26 with a 4:00 PM tip.