ROCK HILL, SC – Catawba used a 20-0 run in the first half to pull away from UVA Wise and never allowed the Highland Cavaliers to get closer than eight points down the stretch as they went on to capture the 86-66 win Thursday evening in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament Quarterfinals.
The Highland Cavaliers were ranked ninth in the NCAA Regional Poll released Wednesday, so the loss tonight more than likely ends their season.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: Catawba 86, UVA Wise 66
Records: UVA Wise (20-11); Catawba (22-7)
Location: Rock Hill, SC | Rock Hill Sports and Events Center
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first half opened with UVA Wise's
Evan Ramsey scoring the first points with a layup at 19:02, assisted by
Kolier Pruett.
Patrick Shelley hit a three-pointer at 14:21, and
Yoro Diallo put them ahead by four. The Catawba Indians rallied and went on a 20-0 run sparked by Justin Banks and Jordan Simpson. Shelley would score five points to cut the lead to single digits late before the period concluded with
Yoro Diallo scoring the final points for the Cavs to cut the score to 35-27.
- Catawba extended its lead with a strong second-half performance, outscoring the Highland Cavaliers 51-39 in the half. Carson Daniel and Ibra Athie contributed significantly to Catawba's scoring efforts, with Daniel hitting a 3-pointer early in the half at 19:36 and Athie adding multiple points in the paint. Despite Diallo's consistent scoring from inside for the Highland Cavaliers, including a layup at 18:59, and Shelley's 10 second-half points, the Cavs could not make a large dent in the lead.
GETTING WISE
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Patrick Shelley scored 20 points while shooting 5-17 from the field and 8-9 from the free throw line in what is likely his final game. He ends his UVA Wise basketball career as the 40th member of the 1,000 point club at UVA Wise with 1,029 points, 469 rebounds, 194 assists, 147 steals and 55 blocks.
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Evan Ramsey had a near double-double despite Catawba making a concerted effort to keep him off the boards as he had 18 points and nine rebounds. He also had four assists and two blocks.
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Yoro Diallo scored 13 points and had seven rebounds, two assists, and a block.
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Kolier Pruett had six points, three rebounds, two steals, and two assists.
Cy Hardy also had six points and two rebounds, while
Anderson Cummins rounded out the scoring with three points.
- If the season is over with the loss, the Cavaliers close the books with their most wins in the program's NCAA era, breaking the 20-win mark for the first time in that period and for only the third time in program history.
UP NEXT
UVA Wise men's basketball will return later this year.
