WISE – After spotting #19 Carson-Newman an eight point early lead, the UVA Wise Highland Cavaliers galloped past the Eagles to lead by sixteen themselves before holding off a late C-N rally for the 87-81 South Atlantic Conference win Wednesday evening.
The win is the second this season by UVA Wise over a top 20 opponent as they also defeated ninth-ranked North Georgia a few weeks ago. It is also the second win in the last four meetings over the Eagles, who are receiving votes in the coaches poll and are ranked nineteenth in the media poll this week.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: UVA Wise 81, Carson-Newman 81
Records: UVA Wise (4-4, 2-3 SAC); Carson-Newman (8-3, 4-2 SAC)
Location: Wise, VA | The Quillen Court in the David J. Prior Convocation Center
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Carson-Newman pulled out to the 11-3 lead, only to see the Cavs go on a 9-2 run to cut the lead to one on a layup by
Max Lidman. Another Lidman basket a couple minutes later would tie the game at 16-16 with 11:13 left as part of an 11-2 Cavalier run. The lead would change sides with several ties over the next several minutes before a three-pointer by
Bradley Dean put UVA Wise ahead by seven with 49 seconds remaining. The Cavs led 41-36 at the break.
- The Eagles scored a basket to open the second half, but then a three-pointer by
Zy'Ever Wingfield sparked a 13-0 run that put the Cavs ahead 54-38 with 16:04 left in the game. UVA Wise would maintain a double-digit lead until just under two minutes remaining when they attempted a late comeback. A John Zhao basket with 39 seconds left cut the lead to 83-79 with 23 seconds left, but a Wingfield layup and free throws from
Calen Lightford sealed the victory.
- The loss spoils a career night for reigning SAC Player of the Week Jack Browder, who had a career-high 36 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in the loss. Zhao chipped in 17 points and Trey Hubbard had ten.
GETTING WISE
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Patrick Shelley led the way for the Cavs with his third career double-double of 17 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. The junior also had four assists and a game-high three blocks.
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Max Lidman had a career-high 13 points, while
Evan Ramsey also added in 13 points and seven rebounds.
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Lav Cvetkovic' netted 12 points, and Zy-Ever Wingfield added in 11 points, including three three-pointers.
- The Cavs outshot the Eagles 45.7 percent to 40.6 percent for the game and had 42 rebounds to the Eagles' 36. The Cavalier bench outscored C-N's bench 25-4 for the contest.
UP NEXT
The Cavs are off until next Wednesday, December 11, when they host Newberry at 7:30 p.m. on the Quillen Court. The Wolves are currently 4-3 overall and 1-2 in SAC play after defeating Mars Hill 98-91 Wednesday evening. They host Wingate Saturday afternoon before playing at Wise next week.
