Box Score PIKEVILLE, Ky. – No. 1 University of Pikeville had a 38-6 run over a 9:16 stretch of the first half to pull away from Union College for a 99-54 win in the regular-season opener Saturday night.
Pikeville, the defending national champion, unveiled the national-championship banner that will hang in the East Kentucky Expo Center and then rolled past the Bulldogs, who played in the NAIA Div. II national tournament a year ago.
The Bears hit 21-of-35 (60 percent) from the field in the first half and sank 8-of-17 (47.1 percent) from the arc before recess. For the game, Coach
Kelly Wells' club hit 56.1 percent from the field, 41.4 percent from the arc and 81.3 percent from the line.
Pikeville also enjoyed a 36-26 advantage on the glass and forced 22 Bulldog turnovers in the win thanks to 12 steals. Senior
Chris McHenry had four thefts to go with nine points and four assists.
Union (0-1) started strong, leading 8-4 after a layup by sophomore Cody Miller with 16:22 left.
From there, however, it was all UPIKE. A layup by senior
Kyan Hines with 10:03 left ended a 28-4 run to give the Bears a 32-12 lead. Less than three minutes later, a pair of free throws for senior
Andrew Young ended the 38-6 run and gave the home team a 42-14 lead with 7:06 to play.
The halftime score was 56-21 and the Bears cruised to the win.
Young led all scorers with 17 points, hitting 7-of-9 from the floor and all three of his free throws. Junior
Trevor Setty opened strong, scoring all 13 of his points in the first half. Hines had 12 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting in only eight minutes of playing time.
All 14 Bears in uniform on Saturday night scored.
Wells also got 16 solid minutes from sophomore
Josh Whitaker, who had eight points and five assists in the win.
Union was led by senior Brent Cork, the only Bulldog in double figures, with 11 points. He also led his club with four assists.
The Bears are back in action on Friday night when they visit Mississippi State University in their final exhibition game of the season. They return home on Sunday, Nov. 6 to play Warren Wilson College at 2 p.m. in the BB&T Classic.
-UPIKE-
