Gilyard records 25 on road versus UVA Wise

WISE, Va. - The Mars Hill men's basketball team (1-9, 1-9 SAC) was upended 104-85 by UVA Wise (3-11, 3-11 SAC) Monday night on the road.

The Lions entered the second half down 48-42, but clawed back to take the 62-60 lead off of a 6-0 run, capped off by a Javonte Cooke three-point play with just over four minutes played.  The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes until a Cavaliers 4-0 run, all scored by Cameron Whiteside, reestablishing the lead.

UVA Wise, up 75-71, went on a 7-2 run to build their lead to nine.  Two free throws from Isayah Johnson cut the deficit back down to seven, but a three-point play from Kaeleb Carter pushed the lead to double-digits.  With under six minutes remaining, the Lions cut the lead down to four, but the Cavaliers responded.

Going on a 10-0 run down the stretch, the Cavaliers built their lead to 97-83 with under three minutes to play.  They finished on a 17-2 run to close out the game.

Whiteside led the Cavaliers with 19 points in the second half followed by Carter's nine.  Cooke led the Lions with 12 while Austin Gilyard added 10.  David Elkins had five assists in the half, closing out the contest with a career-high 10 on the night.

After the first three minutes of play, the Lions were up 5-3 before the Cavaliers rallied back, going on a 9-0 run.  They built their lead up to as many as 14, 27-13, with 8:33 left in the first half.  The Lions began a comeback bid that saw them pull within five with 3:07 remaining as Gilyard drained one of his game-high six three-pointers.  

Whiteside ended the night with a game-high 29 points and added 10 rebounds for the double-double.  Briggs Parris netted 21 followed by Carter's 16 on the night.

Gilyard led the Lions with 25 points, collecting five rebounds.  Cooke ended the night with 14 points while Johnson chipped in with 13.

The Lions return home on Wednesday, February 10 when they host Tusculum.  Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.