WISE - - A pair of freshmen stole the show with season-highs in UVA Wise's 96-79 non-conference victory over Clinton College inside the Prior Center Saturday. Calen Lightford made 7-of-10 field goal attempts en route to 21 points with fellow freshman Zion Fruster connecting on 8-of-16 shots to tie Lightford for game-high scoring honors with 21 points.
UVA Wise (16-10) pushed the tempo, attempting 73 field goal attempts and earning 25 free throw attempts in the triumph. Blake Mellinger's club shot 47.9 percent from the floor, including a 16-for-30 showing in the second half when the team outscored Clinton (17-2) 52-41 to expand on a six-point halftime bulge.
Visiting Clinton built a 12-4 lead at the 16:33 mark of the first half when Isaiah Stone completed a traditional 3-point play. It was part of a big day for the Golden Bears' forward as Stone finished with 14 points and eight boards on 5-of-10 shooting.
The Cavaliers would take control of the contest over the remainder of the first half behind the play of Lightford and Fruster.
The duo would combine for 22 first-half points with Fruster scoring 12 as the hosts took a 44-38 advantage to intermission.
Clinton would get the lead to within four on the opening possession of the second half on an inside bucket from Tyrik Ward-Hoyte and that would be as close as the Bears would get the rest of the day.
The Cavs countered the basket with a quick 6-0 scoring spurt that culminated in a Patrick Shelley layup off a Luke Lawson assist that made it a 50-40 game with 16:35 to play.
Clinton would get the game back within two possessions at the 14:46 mark on a jumper from Tyler Hammond only to again see UVA Wise score five straight, the last three coming on a Luke Lawson 3-pointer.
The lead ballooned to 17 twice including in the final minute when Lightford put the final touches on his big day with a pair of charity shots.
Lawson added 17 points with Kervens Yacinthe tallying 13 and Shelley posting 10 to round out a group of five Cavs in double-figure scoring.
Lightford added seven assists to his stat line while Fruster posted a game-best four steals.
Cameron Shannon led the Bears with 18 points and 10 boards with Hammond tacking on 13 and Jaden Clarke posting 11 as the trio joined Stone in double-figure scoring.
With the win, UVA Wise has won back-to-back games and six of its last nine.
The Cavs will travel to nationally ranked Lincoln Memorial University Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. tip. Fans can hear the action live on FM 92.5 (wlsdradio.com)
