WISE – Another ranked opponent, another win by the UVA Wise men's basketball team. This time it was fifteenth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne to fall under the Highland Cavaliers' charge as UVA Wise took the 90-86 overtime win on the Quillen Court Sunday evening.
The win avenges a loss earlier this season in Hickory, North Carolina, and is the third by UVA Wise over a ranked opponent this season. It is also the second South Atlantic Conference loss for the Bears this season.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: UVA Wise 90, Lenoir-Rhyne 86
Records: UVA Wise (10-5, 7-4 SAC); Lenoir-Rhyne (12-3, 9-2 SAC)
Location: Wise, VA | The Quillen Court in the David J. Prior Convocation Center
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The game was a see-saw affair through the balance of the first half, with ten ties and twelve lead changes. It remained within a 3-4 point window the whole way, with the Bears leading by three points twice and the Cavs leading by four twice via baskets by
Bradley Dean on both occasions. The Cavs held a 39-38 lead at the half after a pair of
Kolier Pruett free throws with five seconds remaining.
- The second half was similar to the first with several lead changes to start. The Bears grabbed the 54-49 lead with 13:18 left only to see a layup by Evan Reynolds and a three by
Lav Cvetkovic' tie it up before taking the lead again. Then the Bears' shooting went as cold as the twenty degree temperatures outside as the Cavs went on an 11-2 run to grab the four point lead. The Bears would tie it once again late and both teams would miss chances over the final minute to force overtime with the 75-75 tie.
- Lenoir-Rhyne would grab the early lead twice, only to see the Cavs come back and go on a 9-0 run to take the 86-79 lead with 1:22 left in the extra frame. The Bears would cut it to 86-85 with twenty seconds left, but a basket by Zy-Ever Wingfield and a pair of free throws by Dean pulled the Cavs ahead for good and they went on to claim the 90-86 upset win.
- Lenoir-Rhyne didn't go away quietly into the night as four players scored in double-figures, led by Hantz Louis-Joune's double-double of 25 points and 11 rebounds. Conrad Luczynski scored 14 points, Julian Dozier added in 13 points and dished out six assists, while Sam Martin contributed 12 points.
GETTING WISE
-
Bradley Dean had a season high 34 points along with four assists to lead the Cavs. He shot 11-20 from the field, 5-10 from behind the arc, and 7-9 from the free throw line. Dean now has 1,285 points at Wise as he passed Michal Seals to move into fifteenth in the career scoring list.
-
Evan Ramsey had yet another double-double with 15 points and a game-high and career-high 18 rebounds. He also had five blocks.
-
Zy'Ever Wingfield and
Anderson Cummins scored 12 points apiece.
- UVA Wise held a 44-39 advantage in rebounding for the contest.
UP NEXT
The Cavaliers will hit the road for a SAC game at Carson-Newman Wednesday evening. UVA Wise defeated the then-19
th ranked Eagles 87-81 on December 4 on the Quillen Court. The Eagles are receiving votes in this week's D2CSC Media Poll and picked up the 250
th win of Head Coach Chuck Benson's career in their 83-82 win at Newberry Saturday evening. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in Holt Fieldhouse in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
