BOONE, NC – The UVA Wise men's basketball team grabbed the lead in the first half and never looked back as they defeated King University 81-71 in the South Atlantic Conference/Conference Carolinas Challenge.
The games in the Challenge were moved to the Appalachian State campus due to damage to the Lees-McRae campus due to the remnants of Hurricane Helene.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: UVA Wise 81, King 71
Records: UVA Wise (1-1); King (0-2)
Location: Boone, NC
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Cavs took the early lead from five points by
Evan Ramsey. King came back and took a 9-7 lead with 15:36 remaining in the half. Almost a minute later,
Anderson Cummins scored the first three of his game-high 21 points to put the Cavs ahead. They would never trail again. UVA Wise would take a 3-4 point lead and the Tornado cut it to one several times before a
Bradley Dean jumper sparked an 11-2 run and eventually extended the lead to 36-13 with 4:14 remaining in the half. The teams traded baskets down the stretch and cut the lead to 40-31 at the half.
- King cut the lead to 42-38 only to see the Cavs push it back out to 62-47 with 11:26 left on a free throw by
Kolier Pruett. The Tornado made one last run and reduced the lead to 69-64 with 3:30 remaining. Once again, UVA Wise moved the lead back to double-digits and held on for the 81-71 win.
- Cummins led all scorers with 21 points as he went 6-7 from the field, 2-3 from three-point range, and 7-8 from the free throw line.
- Dean had 19 points, while Ramsey had a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
Patrick Shelley also chipped in 12 points.
- Dean also led the Cavs with six assists.
- Jordan Akal led King with 15 points, while Mikhail Pocknett had 12 points and nine rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Highland Cavaliers will play at ninth-ranked North Georgia next Saturday and open South Atlantic Conference play on Nov. 23 at Emory & Henry.
