Gemmell Shines but UVa-Wise’s Tank Hits Empty in AAC Semis

February 24, 2006

Bristol, TN – Senior Parker Gemmell shined in what would be his final collegiate game but The University of Virginia’s College at Wise men’s basketball tank hit empty in the Appalachian Athletic Conference semifinals. Gemmell pumped in a career-high 32 points but Union College was too deep and too rested to overpower UVa-Wise in the second half for the 91-78 win.

Third-seeded Union College (22-10) will move on to face top seed Montreat College (20-9) in the AAC final. UVa-Wise rounds out its 2005-06 campaign with a 15-18 mark, a 12-game improvement over the last season.

Gemmell hit eight field goals and 14 of 17 free throw attempts for 32 points and three assists. Jarred Soles was the other double figure scorer for the Cavs. Soles had 24 points with five treys. Zydrunas Rackauskas saw his double-double streak come to an end with 10 boards and nine points.

The Cavs was able to hang with the Bulldogs over the opening 15 minutes of the game. In fact, UVa-Wise edged back ahead, 22-21, on a Soles jumper from a Carlos Goodwyn pass. Union would go on the most biggest run of the game from there. The Bulldogs rattled off the next 10 points to surge ahead, 31-22, and led 39-28 with five tenths of a second. Seth Gibson lofted a pass three quarters court to Gemmell. The senior banked in a triple at the buzzer to cut it to 39-31 at half.

The second half started well for the Cavs. Soles and Gibson hit three-pointer to pull within five points, 42-37, but the Cavs would never get any closer in the final 12 minutes.

Union outscored Uva-Wise 18-7 over four minutes to increase the lead to 60-44. As they have all year, the Cavs never gave up and battled to the end but could get no closer than 10 points until the 91-78 final tally.