WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. — Kenny Manigault had no trouble helping fifth-ranked University of Pikeville bounce back after a loss, pouring in a career-high 38 points and pulling down 12 rebounds to lead the Bears past No. 24 Cumberlands 84-71 on Saturday in the O. Wayne Rollins Center.
The Patriots were within three points briefly in the second half before the Bears went on to lead by as many as 13 down the stretch. Cumberlands allows just 59.9 points per game and Manigault did his best to tally that on his own. The senior’s stat line was 10 of 22 from the field, 2 of 3 from deep and a 16-of-17 showing from the line.
While Manigault will get the headlines, Trey Rakes came up big off the bench, adding 10 points and five rebounds from the point-guard spot. Macari Brooks joined them in double figures with 13 points and Colt Chapman added nine big boards.
UPIKE outshot the Patriots from the field 44.8 to 37.9 percent and hit 27 free throws compared to 20 for Cumberlands. Eleven steals also helped UPIKE as the Patriots could only come up with three swipes.
Tony Bradley paced Cumberlands with 20 points and Taylor Gover added 17, including five 3-pointers.
With a three from Trey Rakes at the 12:30 mark of the first half, UPIKE (22-2, 9-2 MSC) took a 17-13 lead, but the momentum was stopped by big-man reserve Matt Welch who willed in a 3-point play to cut the deficit back to one.
Needing a big shot to get back in control, Simmons delivered with a three from the top of the key and then three minutes later UPIKE grabbed its largest lead yet at 25-19 on a layup by Manigault. Following a Patriot turnover, Manigault got to the stripe off a baseline drive where he made two shots to lead 27-19.
The good vibes continued for UPIKE as Brooks stole the inbounds pass after the freebies and got the line for two makes. It ended up being a 9-0 run for the Bears before Tony Bradley made one shot from the stripe to end it with his team trailing 29-20.
UPIKE scored seven of the next 12 points to go ahead 36-25, including Manigault hitting his second three in a game for the first time since November. With things getting away from the Patriots late in the half, Gover stepped up with big back-to-back 3-pointers to trim the deficit to five.
After Xavier Owens added a free throw, Cumberlands (18-6, 7-4 MSC) had ridden the momentum created by Gover to make it a two-point game at 37-35. The Patriots hoped to keep it there before the break, but Simmons was able to hit his second three of the game as time expired.
Picking off right where he left off, Gover scored the first points of the second half with a reverse layup. The quick make must have caught Jackson Hussey’s attention as he went on the attack for UPIKE, scoring three straight points to give the Bears a 43-37 lead.
Brooks added a steal and layup and suddenly it was an eight-point game. With 11:12 remaining, Rakes kept the Bears rolling with an old-fashioned 3-point play to go up 61-48.
The lead stayed in double figures until the 9:18 mark when D’Lando Carter finished a 3-point play to make it 63-54 following a quick 4-0 Patriot run. Two minutes later, Gover found a cutting Michael Dow to trim the deficit to eight, then Carter hit two shots at the line to get one-point closer at 67-60.
On the next UPIKE possession, Gover drew a charge on Simmons and things were getting interesting. Luckily for the Bears, Rakes made a big-time defensive play with a swipe and fast-break layup to stop the run. Leading 69-62, Chapman and Brooks made back-to-back baskets to put the Bears back up by 11 with 5:04 on the clock.
With just under two minutes to go, the Bears were still in control as Brooks went to the paint to make it 79-66.
Cumberlands wasn’t entirely done as Gover knocked down a three to make it a 10-point game. From there it would be a matter of breaking the press and hitting free throws for UPIKE.
Brooks went 1 for 2 at the stripe in the first trip, allowing the Patriots to get within nine, but Brooks added a slam off a deep pass and Rakes followed with a lay in of his own to put Cumberlands away.
Next up for UPIKE is an important Mid-South Conference matchup with No. 6 Campbellsville at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday in the East Ky. Expo Center. First place in the MSC standings will be on the line as both teams enter with a 9-2 league record.
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