PIKEVILLE, Ky. — For the first time this season, the second-ranked University of Pikeville men’s basketball team had to battle back from a deficit in regular-season play, overcoming a Shawnee State lead as high as 12 points to win 89-85 on Thursday in the Mid-South Conference opener at the East Ky. Expo Center.
While Pikeville went on to lead by nine points late in the second half, it was only an 85-80 advantage with 30 seconds to play. SSU’s Devon Carter tried to make it even closer, but missed a three, allowing Malik Jacobs to rise up for a big rebound and draw a foul. Jacobs hit both free throws to make it a three-possession game and allow UPIKE to hold on for the win.
Kenny Manigault paced UPIKE (4-0, 1-0 MSC) with 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Macari Brooks added 22 points and K.K. Simmons chipped in with 19 points despite battle through intense defensive pressure all night.
All five of Shawnee State’s (1-3, 0-1 MSC) starters reached double figures, led by Andrew Bendolph with 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field. Sean Elliott came off the bench to match Simmons with three 3-pointers and reserve Nick Tingle led SSU on the glass with seven rebounds.
UPIKE struggled with Shawnee State’s defense in the first half, shooting just 39.3 percent from the field, but eventually an edge in athleticism took over as Pikeville went to the rack to finish shooting 48.1 percent for the game, compared to 53.6 percent by SSU.
The comeback was also managed at the free-throw line. With SSU shooting better and holding a 38-29 lead on the boards, Pikeville had to take advantage of hitting 29 free throws, compared to just 18 makes for Shawnee State. Making every stat count, UPIKE also led the game in blocks 5-2 and had five less turnovers (15-10).
When Brooks hit a free throw 10 minutes into the first half, Pikeville had a 20-16 lead, but Shawnee State had other plans and went on a 12-2 run over a three-minute span and kept a lead all the way into halftime at 44-34.
It wasn’t until UPIKE went on a 9-2 run halfway through the second half that it tied the score at 54 all, and then a minute later it took its first lead in 20 minutes at 59-56 on a three from Simmons.
Shawnee State never regained the lead or tied the game again. Instead, Pikeville built a nine-point lead with two minutes to go on a pair of Manigault free throws and closed out the win with two more makes from Simmons to go up by seven before Bendolph made a three at the buzzer.
UPIKE is back in action at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, hosting No. 8 Georgetown which lose 87-66 on Thursday at No. 25 Cumberlands.
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