Cavs Give All NCAA DI Mountaineers Can Handle in Close Affair

December 17, 2007
BOXSCORE

Boone, N.C. – UVa-Wise gave NCAA DI Appalachian State all it could handle in a men’s basketball contest that went down to the final minute on Monday night. The Mountaineers made two free throws with five seconds to seal an 82-77 victory over the Highland Cavaliers.

Pance Kecev led all scorers with 20 points, including making six-of-12 from long range. Adam Hood posted 13 first half points before finishing with 16 on the night. Jarred Soles chipped in 13 points on six of 10 from the floor while Bryan Sexton added eight tallies and five rebounds.

As a team, the Cavs (6-8) shot a solid 48.6% (18 of 37) in the second half to help spur the comeback attempt. The visitors made it to the foul line for just six attempts, making four.

Appalachian (4-5) shot 50 percent from the field, knocked down 29-of-34 free throws (85.3 percent) and held a 45-25 advantage on the boards, but never led by more than 10 points.

Kellen Brand led five Appalachian State players in double-figures with a team-high 17 points and Jeremy Clayton matched a career-high with 14 rebounds.

There were 10 ties and the lead changed hands nine times in the first 16 minutes of the contest before the Mountaineers closed the first half with a 9-2 run to take a 42-35 halftime advantage.

The Cavaliers made five of their first six shots to open the second half and trim the margin to two points, 50-48, with 15:59 remaining on a Kecev three-pointer. The Cavs would get no closer as Sexton made a layup for an 80-77 score with five seconds left before ASU made two free throws to seal the contest, 82-77.

UVa-Wise will now be off until January 3 rd for an 8:00 p.m. contest at Lindsey Wilson.