PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- UPIKE jumped out to a 16-2 lead and things never got easier for Tennessee Temple as Kevin Kornegay's game-high 24 points led the Bears to a 98-66 win on Thursday in the East Ky. Expo Center.
The UPIKE lead was 56-30 at halftime as finding points wasn't a problem all night with the Bears shooting 56.1 percent from the field. The threes were also flying in Pikeville as UPIKE hit a season-best 13 and the Crusaders hit the most given up by the Bears all season with 10.
Weedlens Beauvil knocked down seven of TTU's long-range baskets, finishing with 23 points, while Cameron High chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Behind Kornegay's 24 points, including four threes, for UPIKE (10-1) was K.K. Simmons with 15 points and three 3-pointers, Kenny Manigault adding 12 points and Christian Leach with 10.
The Bears outrebounded Tennessee Temple 35-31, led fastbreak points 14-2, points off the bench 65-15 and points in the paint 40-26.
Tennessee Temple (4-8) made all four of its free-throw attempts, but the Bears got more done at the stripe, making 11 of 15 shots.
After taking the 16-2 lead, UPIKE never let the Crusaders get closer than 13 points, instead jumping out to a 29-point lead before halftime on a three from Trey Rakes. The lead reached 31 points eight minutes into the second half on a layup by Simmons before going as high as 37 with just under five minutes to play.
It's a short break for the Bears as they host IU-Southeast at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday in the East Ky. Expo Center.
