PIKEVILLE, Ky. — K.K. Simmons isn’t afraid to shoot, and for University of Pikeville fans that shouldn’t be a problem as he nailed seven 3-pointers to lead the Bears with 30 points in a 124-77 rout of Alice Lloyd on Saturday in the finale of the BB&T Classic at the East Ky. Expo Center.
The Eagles (3-2) had every intention of sticking around early, taking an 8-7 lead on a jumper from Tyler Rogers just over a minute in. But the UPIKE pressure finally overwhelmed them, leading to a 20-2 run that had the Bears up by 17 points with over 13 minutes left in the first half.
By halftime, UPIKE (3-0) was up by 34 points at 67-33 before going on to lead by as many as 49 in the second half after a 3-point play by Kevin Kornegay. UPIKE has scored at least 100 points in all three of its games this season, the century mark was reached against Alice Lloyd at the 8:24 mark of the second half on a layup by Christian Leach (101-63).
Simmons is the first Bear to hit seven 3-pointers since Chris McHenry did it against Shawnee State (Ohio) on Feb. 4, 2012. Eight 3-pointers is the most hit by a UPIKE player in a single game in recorded history, done twice by Josh Samarco in 2008.
Leach backed up Simmons with 17 points, Jackson Hussey added 16 and Macari Brooks poured in 15 points. Leach finished with a double-double after also coming down with a game-high 10 rebounds and Manigault pulled down eight boards to go along with his 10 points and four assists.
The Bears shot 53 percent from the field and hit 26 of their 33 free-throw attempts, all while connecting on 10 3-pointers. Alice Lloyd struggled at 43.5 percent from the field, 25 percent from behind the arc and connected on 18-of-27 free throws.
Rebounds went in favor of the Bears 50-32, including a 17-6 edge on the offensive glass, leading to a 22-5 mark in second-chance points.
UPIKE steps away from regular-season play one more time at 8 p.m. ET on Monday , facing Western Kentucky in Bowling Green, Ky., for an exhibition contest at E.A. Diddle Arena.
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