Box Score BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Kenny Manigault tallied a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds for the University of Pikeville, but Western Kentucky outrebounded the Bears 41-32 and shot 58.2 percent from the field to win 105-84 on Monday night at E.A. Diddle Arena.
UPIKE hit two more 3-pointers than the Hilltoppers and had just one extra turnover at 14-13, but easy baskets proved the difference as WKU led points in the paint 54-30 and hit 11 more field goals.
Two other Bears joined Manigault in double figures scoring in Macari Brooks with 19 points, six board and three 3-pointers and K.K. Simmons added 12 points and hit a pair of shots from behind the arc.
Western Kentucky got 23 points and eight assists from T.J. Price and 18 points and 10 rebounds from freshman Justin Johnson.
It was a hot start for UPIKE as Colt Chapman, Simmons and Brooks made three straight 3-pointers to take an 11-7 lead. After falling behind 33-22, UPIKE fought back with an 8-0 run to make it 33-30, but the Tops punched right back with a 6-0 run of their own in a 30-second span to regain control.
WKU took a 53-44 lead into halftime and increased the lead to 12 points four minutes in. The margin stayed in double figures throughout the half, although the Bears never allowed it to swell to more than 21 points which came at the 10-minute mark.
Instead they got two free throws from Christian Leach with 3:57 to play to make it a 14-point game at 93-79. But the Hilltoppers put a stop to the comeback effort with an 8-2 run and held on for the 21-point win.
UPIKE returns to regular-season action on Thursday, hosting Shawnee State (Ohio) at 8 p.m. ET at the East Ky. Expo Center.
