NEWBERRY, S.C. — Bradley Dean's three-point dagger with less than seven seconds to go silenced Eleazer Arena and heaved the Cavaliers over the Newberry Wolves by a score of 72-71 in the SAC Quarterfinals on Wednesday night.
The win marks the first postseason triumph for the men's basketball program since 2018 (vs. Glenville State) and the first win for the program on the road since 2010 (at Union College).
UVA Wise (18-11) came out fiery in the first five minutes of the first half, jumping out to a 15-3 lead with the help of an early steal-and-dunk from Patrick Shelley and a few hot jumpers from Bradley Dean.
From then on until the halftime buzzer, the Cavaliers kept the Wolves (19-10) at no more than a six-point deficit. Every single Cavalier put points up on the scoreboard in the first half, including a five field-goal, 13 point performance from Dean. Newberry's Caleb Byrd led the Wolves with eight points as the Cavs held their squad to no double-digit scorers in the first half. At the end, UVA Wise led by 13 points (38-25).
After the break, Newberry found a push from Andrew Robinson and TJ Brown from beyond the arc and put the score at 40-34 at the 16:52 mark. Luke Lawson and Dean soon each hit a three-ball to hold the Wolves off of scoring for a possession, but the Wolves wouldn't back down. Despite a dunk from Rron Ukaj and a made shot from the charity stripe, Brown and Quandaveon McCollum combined for four consecutive jumpers over the next three minutes to creep within three of the Cavs (60-57). At the 4:58 mark, a layup from McCollum tied the game at 46 all — the first tie of the whole contest. Lawson retaliated with a three-pointer to get ahead once again, but McCollum and Robinson each found a way to the bucket to tie the ball game once again. Newberry found their first lead with a minute left to go after Brown laid in a layup to grab the 71-69 score.
In the last 45 seconds, a turnover from McCollum gave the Cavs the ball back and Dean hit a long three-pointer in the last seven seconds to steal away the 72-71 victory.
"This is what March madness is all about," Dean said in his postgame interview. "I have always dreamed to be able to take a shot like that and I am really grateful my team trusted me to take that shot."
Dean trickled in a game-high 28 points and was the sole Cavalier who scored in double-figures. Brown led the Wolves with 17 points while McCollum (16) and Robinson (12) also added in double-digit scoring.
UVA Wise shot a solid 50-percent from the field and outshot the Wolves (46.8-percent). The Cavs also outrebounded Newberry 31-28.
Up next, the Cavaliers head to play No. 9 Lincoln Memorial in the SAC Semifinals at Simmons Arena in Greenville, S.C. on Saturday, March 4 at 5 PM.
