PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- So we meet again. For the second time this season, the University of Pikeville men's basketball team will welcome the Bruins of Bob Jones (S.C.) into the East Ky. Expo Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on Friday with the game being aired on Z1075 FM.
This is just the second meeting between the programs in recorded history as the Bears came away with a 94-73 win on Oct. 29 in the third game of the season. Bob Jones shot over 50 percent from behind the arc (12-22), but UPIKE overcame the hot shooting by attempting 20 more free throws and forcing 28 turnovers.
Michael Lewis put together a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Marshall Riddle paced the Bruins with 28 points, connecting on 7-of-11 shots from outside.
Bob Jones has posted a 2-9 record since its first trip to Pikeville, including losses in its last four games. The two wins were posted on Nov. 5 against Johnson (Tenn.), and on Nov. 21 against Toccoa Falls. Defense has been a struggle as the Bruins are allowing 87 points per game while scoring just 77 themselves. Riddle is scoring over 20 points per game, while 6-8 sophomore big man Quez Fisher is averaging a double-double of 13.1 points and 10.9 rebounds.
Kelly Wells, in his 11th season as head coach at UPIKE, is the winningest coach in program history at 242 victories. Wells is also a win shy of becoming the basketball wins leader at the school. Bill Watson, who coached the women for 16 seasons, left with 242 wins as well. In his time at UPIKE, Wells is 155-24 at home and when his teams score at least 90 points, he's 119-7.
UPIKE enters Friday needing a win to get back on track after dropping its last two contests, to No. 2 Georgetown and at Life (Ga.) in Mid-South Conference play. The Bears have two players averaging double figures scoring in Darrion Leslie (11.6) and Trey Rakes (11.0), while Lewis is pulling down a team-leading 7.1 boards per contest.
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