UVa-Wise Moves onto AAC Men’s Hoops Second Round

February 22, 2006
Boxscore

Bristol, TN – What a difference a year has made for The University of Virginia’s College at Wise men’s basketball program. The Highland Cavaliers have ascended from the Appalachian Athletic Conference cellar last year to a formidable squad that defeated Milligan College, 69-63, in the league tournament opening round Wednesday afternoon.

UVa-Wise suffered through an injury plaqued 3-28 season but continues it rise up the league to 14-17, with three NCAA Division I defeats, with the win. Milligan dropped to 10-20 to complete its season. The Cavs will now move on to face second-seeded Tennessee Wesleyan College Thursday afternoon for a 12:30 p.m. tip-off.

The Cavs featured three double figures scorers to lead them to victory. Senior Parker Gemmell pumped in 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds. AAC Freshman of the Year, Zydrunas Rackauskas produced his 13th double-double of 17 points on five of nine shooting and seven of 10 foul shots to go with 13 rebounds. Jarred Soles added 16 tallies including four of seven three-pointers.

After a 30-30 opening half, UVa-Wise opened an eight point, 45-37, advantage in the first six minutes of the latter stanza. The lead grew to nine, 59-50, with 6:27 left on a Soles triple from Carlos Goodwyn.

Milligan held tough and battled back to as close as two points, 65-63, on an Adrian Harrison free throw with 55 seconds in the game. The Buffs could get no closer as Gemmell and Joey Blackwell made shots in the final 25 ticks to seal the 69-63 win.