PULASKI, Tenn. -- After trailing by 11 points at halftime, the 19th-ranked University of Pikeville men's basketball team outscored No. 22 Faulkner (Ala.) 40-26 in the second half to register a 69-66 win on Saturday in the final game of the MSC/SSAC Challenge.

Trey Rakes paced the Bears with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Antwine Baker added 13 points and Michael Lewis and Darrion Leslie had 10 each. Jose Jimenez led Faulkner (2-4) with 18 points.

After trailing by 14 points early in the second half, UPIKE (10-1)was able to take a 52-51 lead after a 16-3 run. The lead flip flopped twice over the final five minutes and was still just a two-point UPIKE lead with 1:17 to play at 67-65.

By playing the fouling game, Faulkner was eventually able to claw within one in the final 10 seconds, but Rakes made sure the Bears stayed on top with two makes from the stripe just before the final buzzer. After going on the big run to grab a lead, the Bears led by as many as four points in the final five minutes.

With 7:06 left in the opening half, UPIKE was in front 25-22 after a layup by Lewis, but the Bears would go on to score just four more points in the half. While the Bears struggled to score, the Eagles took advantage with an 18-4 run to lead by 11 at the break.

It took 10 minutes for UPIKE to get back in front in the final 20 minutes, utilizing a 13-0 run to turn a 51-39 deficit into a 52-51 lead.

A 36-25 rebound advantage and giving up three less turnovers helped UPIKE overcome Faulkner hitting 14 3-pointers, compared to just four for the Bears. UPIKE was much better from inside the arc, outshooting Faulkner 48 to 41 percent.

UP NEXT

UPIKE returns to action with Mid-South Conference play at 4 p.m. ET next Saturday, hosting Shawnee State (Ohio) in the East Ky. Expo Center.

-UPIKE-