Staff report

INSTITUTE, W.Va. — Livingstone opened its men’s basketball season here Friday evening with a 104-82 loss to Virginia-Wise.

The game, part of the Earl Lloyd MEC-CIAA Classic, was played at the Walker Center, on the campus of West Virginia State. The Blue Bears play the host Yellow Jackets on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Damante McNeill, a 6-5 senior, led Livingstone (0-1) with 18 points, shooting 8-for-12 from the field, followed by junior guard Roger Ray with 16. Malik Smith added 10 points while Lydell Elmore paced the team with eight rebounds.

UVa.-Wise’s Briggs Parris was the star of the game, scoring 31 points. He made 9-of-14 shots from the 3-point arc.

Michal Seals scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Cavaliers (1-0) while Tajh Eason collected 15 points and Cameron Whiteside added 12.

The game was fairly even except for 3-point shooting. Both teams shot 50 percent overall, but Livingstone made just 1-of-12 from the 3-point line. Led by Parris, UVa.-Wise sank 18-of-34 treys (53 percent).

The Cavaliers led by nine points at halftime (47-38) and then outscored the Blue Bears in the second half, 57-44.

NOTE: West Virginia State defeated Elizabeth City State in the other game on Friday, 89-82. … Livingstone’s home opener is scheduled for Wednesday against Morris, a 7:30 p.m. start at New Trent Gym.

LIVINGSTONE (82) — N. Elmore 6, Ray 16, L. Elmore 9, Smith 10, Harris 4, Livingston, Lewis 1, Fykes, Grant 7, Handley, Tate 2, Carpenter 7, McNeill 18, Dupree, Parker, Team 2.

VIRGINIA-WISE (104) — Seals 18, Carter 7, Sheffey 8, Okenchi 7, Parris 31, Twyman, Langford 2, Whiteside 12, Thomas, Pointer 4, Eason 15.

Livingstone        38    44 — 82

Virginia-Wise    47    57 — 104