PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- Bob Jones was hot all game, shooting 50 percent from the field and 54 percent from three, but it wasn't enough to overcome 28 turnovers and a 42-10 difference in free-throw attempts as the 19th-ranked University of Pikeville men's basketball team won 94-73 on Saturday.

UPIKE (2-0) was simply too quick and strong for the Bruins to contend with on the defensive end, leading to the gaudy difference in free throws. The Bears connected on 34 of their 42 attempts while turning the ball over just nine times compared to the near 30 giveaways by Bob Jones.

The freebies, foul difference and 17-10 lead on the offensive glass were all crucial for UPIKE as the Bruins connected on 12 3-pointers.

Michael Lewis led the charge of being physically dominant, finishing with his second career double-double as he scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to go along with two blocks. Jordan Perry looked very un-freshman like with 18 points, two assists and two steals, while Desmond Medder poured in 15 points with 9-of-9 shooting from the stripe.

Marshall Riddle did his best to keep Bob Jones (0-2) in contention despite the miscues, finishing with 28 points as he shot 7 of 11 from behind the arc.

UPIKE's bench outscored Bob Jones' 51-18 and the Bears made turnovers hurt, turning them into a 38-6 scoring advantage.

After opening the game with a Justin Matthews three and Tre Tipton free throw, the Bruins held a 4-3 lead. But once Medder put UPIKE in front with two makes from the stripe, Bob Jones never saw the lead again. Instead, the Bears built a double-digit lead by the 7:47 mark of the first half on a dunk by Medder to make it 34-23.

Bob Jones went on a quick 7-0 spurt to cut that deficit down to four, but UPIKE ended the half on a 20-5 run to take a 54-35 lead into halftime.

Riddle opened the second half with one of his seven 3-pointers, but it was a brief respite as UPIKE gradually added to its lead with an 18-of-20 showing from the stripe. The largest gap of 24 points came from none other than two Medder free throws with four minutes to play and the deficit never went under 20 points the rest of the way.   

UP NEXT

The Appalachian Wireless Classic is on the docket for next weekend with UPIKE taking on Ohio State-Mansfield at 8 p.m. ET on Friday in the East Ky. Expo Center.

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