PIKEVILLE, Ky. – The Dudley Hilton era at the University of Pikeville began with a bang as the Bears knocked off Point University 44-26 Thursday night in the only exhibition game on the 2011 schedule.

Hilton saw his offense post 34 first-half points to open a big lead before cruising in, with many people seeing playing time after intermission.

Many people were in the stands as well, as a crowd of 4,006 came out to see Hilton, who is tied for the most career wins for a high school coach in the Commonwealth, coach his first collegiate game.

The Bears will open the regular season on Saturday, Sept. 3 when they host the University of Southern Virginia at the Hambley Athletics Complex. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.

Pikeville posted 430 yards of total offense in the win, with a balanced attack of 181 rushing yards and 249 in the air.

The Chargers, which lost at Lindsey Wilson 22-6 last week, finished with 309 yards of offense on 81 plays.

Senior tailback B.J. Iverson led the Bears on the ground with 60 yards on 10 carries and scored the game's first two touchdowns, coming on runs of 24 and one yards, to make it 14-0 with 8:29 still to play in the opening period.

Point got on the scoreboard before the period ended as Kendall Gunn crossed from five yards out. Gunn led the Chargers with 58 yards on 15 carries in the loss.

The second quarter was all Pikeville and it all came on the arm of junior quarterback Trevor Hoskins.

In the frame, he hit Axxel Rivas from 44 yards out, Tanner Napier from 15 and Akeem Bennett from one. All went for touchdowns and all came in the first 6:11 of the period, as the Bears built a 34-6 lead by recess.

Hoskins, who holds the single game and season marks for completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns, finished 12-of-23 for 177 and the three scores.

In the second half, Point's Marvin Johnson scored on a three-yard run to make it 34-14 before UPike's Michael Quick nailed a 29-yard field goal. Gunn scored his second touchdown on a three-yard run to close out third-period scoring with the Bears in front 37-20.

The teams traded four-yard scoring runs in the final period. Pikeville's came from Jamil Eilisis while Johnson closed out scoring for Point.

Pikeville's kicking tandem of Quick and Patrick Knuckles, both freshmen, combined to go 5-of-6 on PATs.

Hunter Adams led the receiving corps for the home team with 65 yards. Rivas posted 59 yards and Napier 55, all coming on four catches.

Sophomore Josh Sammons led the Bears with seven tackles and a fumble recovery. Four teammates followed with four tackles apiece.

Point's Aramis Calloway led all tacklers with 13, all but one of them being solos.

-UPIKE-