WISE, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Men's Basketball Team (5-15, 3-13 SAC) battled until the final buzzer, but could not take down rival the University of Virginia's College at Wise (13-7, 10-6 SAC) in South Atlantic Conference play Wednesday evening. The Cavaliers outlasted the Wasps for a 77-72 win.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – UVA Wise 77, Emory & Henry 72
LOCATION – Wise, Virginia
VENUE – David J. Prior Convocation Center
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (5-15, 3-13 SAC); UVA Wise (13-7, 10-6 SAC)
How It Happened
- The Cavaliers began the game on the front foot as they took an early 9-6 lead at the first media timeout. E&H responded over the following seven and a half minutes, as the Wasps strung together a 14-7 run capped off with a layup from senior guard Jalen Leftwich (Lynchburg, Va.) to leapfrog into the lead and force a UVA Wise timeout. Emory & Henry held a narrow 28-24 with 4:26 on the clock, but the Cavaliers finished the half with a flurry as they went on a 15-4 run to end the stanza. The home team forced turnovers on the final three E&H possessions to take a 39-32 lead into the locker room.
- The Cavaliers picked up where they left off to begin the second half as they saw their lead reach 12 at 51-39 with 14:32 remaining. The Wasps stormed back with a 13-2 rally over the next three minutes and change to pull back within just a point at 53-52 and force another UVA Wise timeout. The home team settled in after the break in play, rattling off six quick points to increase the margin back out to 59-52 at the 9:22 mark. The visitors from Emory would not go down without a fight, battling back with a quick 8-2 outburst to trim the deficit to just a point with six minutes to play. The two teams traded buckets down the stretch of the deciding half and the Cavaliers led by a pair with just under three minutes left. UVA Wise proved to be a bit too much on their home court as they created enough scoring chances in the final few minutes to take the victory by a 77-72 margin.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
- Freshman guard Korbin Dixon (Milton, Ontario, CANADA) led the offense for the Wasps with 19 points, four rebounds, one assist and a steal. Senior guard/forward Gabe Brown (Clintwood, Va.) registered 16 points, five rebounds, two blocked shots, two steals and an assist.
- Sophomore guard Jackson Crawford (Daleville, Va.) went for 12 points, seven rebounds and a pair of assists while junior guard Omari Curley (Prince George, Va.) finished with a team-high eight rebounds, four points, two blocks and a steal.
UVA Wise Individual Leaders
- Bradley Dean led all scorers as he poured in 22 points, seven assists, four steals and a rebound. Lav Cvetkovic contributed 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists for the Cavaliers.
- Evan Ramsey recorded a double-double with 15 points, 15 rebounds, one assist, one block and a steal in the win for UVA Wise.
A Deeper Look
- UVA Wise shot 30-for-68 (44%) from the field while knocking down just 23% (6-for-26) from the three-point line. The Wasps were 41% (29-for-70) shooting overall and 5-for-21 (24%) from distance.
- E&H went 9-for-12 (75%) from the free throw line while the Cavaliers shot 69% (11-for-16) from the charity stripe.
- Emory & Henry held a 47-36 rebounding margin and outscored the home team 21-17 on second-chance points.
- The Cavaliers got out in transition, tallying 17 fastbreak points compared to eight for E&H.
Up Next
- E&H returns home to the John Rutledge King Center on Saturday, February 1 when the Wasps host Wingate University for Donate Life Day. Tip is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. as the second half of a SAC doubleheader with the women's team.
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