Charleston, W.Va. – The Glenville State Pioneers season came to an end on Wednesday night as they lost a hard fought battle in overtime to the Cavaliers of UVa-Wise in the first round of the MEC Tournament, 89-83.

Glenville State (8-21) shot just 22 percent from deep hitting just 8-of-36 while UVa-Wise (14-15) finished the night shooting 45 percent from deep drilling 14-of-31 three-pointers.

In the first half, Darhius Nunn would net the first two points of the ballgame as he drilled two early free-throws. After that both team would go back and forth. The Cavaliers took their first lead of the game at 5-4.

Theo Brown provided a spark off of the bench as he converted a three-point play as the Pioneers took a four point lead at the 15:50 minute mark, 9-5. The Cavaliers answered back and would end up leading GSC 11-10 at the first media timeout.

Glenville State and UVa-Wise ended up all tied up at 21 all at the 10:42 minute mark. But after that tie the Cavaliers went on a 2:46 scoring drought but the Pioneers only led by four, 25-21 with 8:19 to play.

However after that drought the Cavaliers then went on a 9-0 run, hitting back-to-back three-pointers in that stretch, as the Cavaliers led the Pioneers by five 30-25. UVa-Wise then stretched their lead to seven over GSC at 36-29 with just 2:11 till halftime.

Glenville State scored the last five points of the half as they pulled within two points as they trailed UVa-Wise 36-34. Glenville State in the first half shot 41 percent from the field but went just 3-of-14 from deep for 21 percent while UVa-Wise shot 37 percent from the field and shot 43 percent from deep nailing 7-of-15 three-pointers.

UVa-Wise started the second half on a 10-2 run as they built a 10 point lead over the Pioneers at 46-36. Brooks Ely then cut it to seven, 46-39, as he netted a huge three-pointer. But the Cavaliers answered right back as they took an 11 point lead at the 14:44 media timeout, 52-41.

The Pioneers would struggle on the offensive end while the Cavaliers got hot and stretched their lead to 15 points at 60-45 with 11:54 minute mark. Glenville State would not give up as they battled back and cut the Cavaliers lead to single digits, eight points, at 66-58 as when headed into the last four minutes of the game.

Glenville State continued to battle as the Pioneers scored back-to-back buckets as they cut the Cavaliers lead to five, 72-67 with 1:46 to play. After a defensive stop by the Pioneers Theo Brown would lay it in as he made it a three-point game, 72-69 with just 1:18.

Another great defensive stand by GSC gave them the ball back. Jon Dunmyer then was fouled on a three-pointer but hit just 1-of-3 from the line as the Pioneers trailed by two, 72-70. Darhius Nunn then tied the game up at 72 all with a 15-footer as we headed into overtime.   

Overtime saw the Cavaliers drilled back-to-back three-pointers as they went on a 6-0 run to take a 78-72 lead but Jon Dunmyer answered back with a three-pointer of his own making it 78-75 with 3:44 to play. UVa-Wise would get a bucket on their next possession but again GSC answered this time as Brooks Ely hit a three-pointer pulling within three, 81-78. But again the Cavaliers answered as they went up by five, 83-78. A Cavalier turnover and a three-point play by Darhius Nunn pulled the Pioneers with two points with 1:06 to play 83-81.

Glenville State then was forced to foul as UVa-Wise hit six straight free-throws down the stretch as the Cavaliers held on to defeat the Pioneers, 89-83.

GSC finished the contest shooting 38 percent from the field while UVa-Wise shot 40 percent.

The rebounding battle went to the Pioneers as they out rebounded the Cavaliers by 15, 55-40. However GSC had 19 costly turnovers on the night.

The Pioneers had four players post double figures with Darhius Nunn leading the way with 21 points while going just 7-of-28 from the field. Nunn also dished out a team high seven assists and pulled down six boards. Jon Dunmyer scored 17 points as he netted 4-of-10 three-pointers.Brooks Ely posted a double-double as he scored 10 points and grabbed a game high 15 rebounds. Andrew Johnson also chipped in with 10 points.

UVa-Wise also had four players in double figures with Taiwo Badmus scoring a game high 30 points as he went 10-of-19 from the floor while grabbing 14 rebounds as he posted a double-double. Chance Sheffey scored 19 points in the contest while Michal Seals scored 15 points and dished out nine assists. Yesid Mosquera-Perea chipped in with 10 points.