Wise, Va. - After an even first 10 minutes, UVa-Wise put together a 25-8 spurt to give enough cushion the rest of the way to take Virginia Intermont in men's basketball Saturday. The Highland Cavaliers rode the big lead and would not let the Cobras back any closer than eight points the final half for the 94-85 Appalachian Athletic Conference win.

The Cavs (7-19/5-11 AAC) received 64 of its 94 points off their bench. Travis Willis came on to net 24 points including 12 of 13 from the charity stripe to go with nine rebounds and three assists. Aaron Meachem made seven of eight shots and all four from long-range for 20 points, his best as a Cav. Pance Kecev, Adam Hood and Kevin Perry rounded out the double digit scorers with 13, 12 and 11 points. Perry added eight boards.

Akeen Price was the leader for Va. Intermont (6-21/5-11 AAC) with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Nathaniel Hart added a double-double of 19 points and 11 caroms.

Down 17-13, the Cavs put together their deciding run of 29-8. Willis keyed the surge with two back-to-back jumpers to start the scoring and accounted for 10 of the 29 points to take UVa-Wise ahead 42-25 with 2:14 in the first half. The Cobras netted the final seven points of the stanza to trail 42-32.

UVa-Wise maintained the double figure advantage and extended it to as many as 18 points, 74-56, midway through the half. Virginia Intermont could not get closer than eight points with 19 seconds in the game before falling 94-85.

UVa-Wise will travel to Covenant College for a 7:30 p.m. contest on Wednesday night.