Box Score

PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Kearsten Marion missed a three at the buzzer and the third-ranked University of Pikeville men's basketball team stayed perfect in Mid-South Conference play with an 80-77 win at Bluefield (Va.) on Thursday at The Dome Gymnasium.

Keala King led all scorers with 21 points, Kenny Manigault finished with 18 and Bruce Reed added 15 for the Bears. Josh Whitaker joined them in double figures with 11. Chris Cantino and Manigault had five rebounds each to lead the Bears.

UPIKE (12-1, 3-0 MSC) was outrebounded for the first time this season 39-34, but outshot the Rams 52 to 44 percent from the field. The Bears also hit nine more free throws.

The action was tight at the start with the score knotted at 12 five minutes in. Bluefield (6-3, 1-2 MSC) got the first breathing room with a 6-0 run highlighted by back-to-back jumpers from Marion to take an 18-12 lead.

Bluefield led 25-17 five minutes later on Melvin's 3-point play, but UPIKE answered with an 8-0 run, tying the score on Colt Chapman's jumper in the paint. Manigault had added two 3-point plays of his own prior to that to complete the comeback.

Josh Whitaker kept the streak alive with a pair of layups 16 seconds apart to put the Bears up by four, their largest lead up to that point. The Rams came right back with a 4-0 run and finished the half with a tip in from Devin Page to lead 37-35 at the break.

The Rams built a 43-39 lead to start the second half, but Whitaker was there with a three to cut the lead to one. The long-distance make was just the second of the game in 12 attempts. Despite the big shot, Bluefield got a layup and dunk to take a five-point lead with 16 minutes to play.

Neither team could keep a lead for long as Manigault got loose for a layup, Justice hit his first three of the game and Manigault added a free throw to put the Bears up 54-53 four minutes later. Neither team led by more than four points over the next four minutes, while a Bluefield turnover and layup from Justice tied it at 66.

UPIKE finally got its chance to enjoy a four-point cushion at the four-minute mark as Reed finished down low in transition after a miss by Nesbit. The Rams turned in over on the inbounds and Whitaker quickly laid it in for a 74-68 lead.

The Bears were on an 8-0 run at that point, but it was ended with a three from Kyle Grisby. Bluefield fought back within two at 77-75 on back-to-back dunks by Lubsey, the second coming on a lob from half court.

King made one free throw on the other end to make it a three-point lead as Bluefield took a timeout with 36 seconds to play. Reed fouled Nesbit who made both shots to make it 78-77. Manigault was sent to the line on the other end with 10 seconds left and made them both.

Marion fired one last three at the buzzer that just missed to give UPIKE the win.

The Bears are back in action at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday against Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) at the East Ky. Expo Center.