PIKEVILLE, Ky. — For the second time this season, K.K. Simmons matched a program-record with eight threes to lead the fourth-ranked UPIKE past IU Southeast 98-72 on Saturday at the East Ky. Expo Center.
Simmons finished with 36 points, two under his season high, and shot 8 of 16 from behind the arc. He got some help from Kenny Manigault with 17 points, Macari Brooks with 16 and Michael Eneh came off the bench for four points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
The Bears (11-1) needed the outside boost as they hit just 11-of-21 shots from the free-throw line and also posted a 48-36 advantage on the glass after being outrebounded at halftime. The Grenadiers trailed by just nine at the break and even led by two at the 8:28 mark before UPIKE went on a 16-7 run over the next six minutes.
IU Southeast (3-7) cut the deficit to seven with just under 17 minutes to play, but UPIKE’s lead reached double figures just seconds later on a Simmons three and never left. Malik Jacobs’ free throw in the final eight minutes made it a 20-point lead and the rout was on.
The Grenadiers’ Jake Simpson did all he could to keep his team in it, finishing with 31 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field and a 11-of-12 showing from the stripe. Simpson’s big game was spoiled by seven turnovers as IUS finished with 22 turnovers and just 13 assists.
UPIKE was much better in that aspect of the game with 19 assists and 10 turnovers, while also swiping 15 steals to help put IUS away.
Saturday’s win sends the Bears to their holiday break as they won’t be back in action until 7 p.m. ET on Jan. 1 against Truett-McConnell in UPIKE Gym
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