Bears explode early, lock down late in KCU win

Box Score PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Pikeville College posted leads of 12-0 and 16-2 in its final tune-up before beginning Mid-South Conference play, a 107-74 win over the Knights of Kentucky Christian University.

The Bears will be 7-1 and winners of six straight when the University of the Cumberlands arrives on Thursday night for the league opener, which will be regionally televised.

Pikeville jumped out to the early lead but saw a stubborn KCU team stick around, trimming a 27-point lead early in the second half to as many as 15 before the Bears pulled away late.

Holding the Knights to only four points in the final 7:18 of play, Pikeville led by as many as 35 before settling for the 33 point win.

Senior Quincy Hankins-Cole led four starters in double figures with 22 to go with six rebounds, four assists and three steals. He was followed by senior Ryan Whitaker's 18. Senior guard Vance Cooksey tossed in 17 while picking off four steals and handing out three assists, while sophomore Trevor Setty had a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

The Knights, 5-6, were led by senior Casey Jones, who had 28 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the arc to go with seven steals and six rebounds. Sophomore Clay McKinzie tossed in 17, hitting 5-of-11 from the three-point stripe.

Pikeville won the rebounding battle 42-31 and forced 27 Knight turnovers, being credited with 19 steals, only one shy of the season-high for the team that entered play second in the nation in steals per game.

The Bears will host Cumberlands on Thursday night in a game slated to tip at 8:07. The women's game between the clubs will commence at 5:50.

Lindsey Wilson comes to town on Saturday for another MSC double dip, starting at 2 and 4 p.m.

--PC--

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