Soles and Cavs’ Seniors Paste Bulldogs

February 23, 2008
BOXSCORE

Wise, Va. – Jarred Soles pumped in 25 points and the UVa-Wise quintet of seniors pasted Union College on Saturday afternoon in the season finale. Leading 52-42 early in the second half, the Highland Cavaliers went on a 16-0 run sparked by 11 points by Pance Kecev to coast to the 86-63 win over the Bulldogs in men’s hoops.

With the victory, UVa-Wise (13-17) will move into at least sixth place in the final Appalachian Athletic Conference regular season standings. The Cavs and Bulldogs (18-12) tied at 8-10 in the AAC and split the season series but the Cavs defeated King College in December to finish at least one place higher. UVa-Wise could move into fifth if Milligan wins on the road at Montreat Saturday night.

Senior Soles (Yorktown, Va.) hit seven of 10 tries and four triples for 25 points in his final appearance in Greear Gym. Kecev (Nickelsville, Va.) had three treys and seven of eight from the foul line for his 20-point outing. Seth Gibson (Wytheville, Va.) added eight points while the other three seniors Daniel Adams ( Floyd, Va.), Justin Sorensen (Suffolk, Va.) and Joey Blackwell (Kingsport, Tenn.) chipped in five, five and a point. Blackwell added three assists.

Union received 13 points from Aaron Dunaway for its lone double figure scorer. Huberts von Heyden grabbed nine rebounds.

The two squads were in a one possession game over the first 11 minutes of the contest. With Union ahead 20-19, UVa-Wise went on a 10-2 spurt to edge in front 29-22. The Bulldogs came back to within four, 30-26, but saw the Cavs outscore them 11-6 in the final four minutes for a 41-32 tally.

After battling evenly for the first just over five minutes, the home team went on the run of the night. Following an Adam Hood (Rye Cove, Va.) long-range jumper, Kecev went wild with 11 points including being fouled intentionally on a made three-pointer. Behind Kecev and two Union technical fouls in less then 30 seconds, UVa-Wise went from ahead 10 points to a 26-point, 68-42, advantage. The home team coasted the final 10 minutes for an 86-63 win.