PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- The 19th-ranked University of Pikeville men's basketball team led for 33 minutes against St. Catharine, but it wasn't until the final 10 that a win felt safe as it pulled away from the Patriots 87-70 on Saturday in the East Ky. Expo Center.

Up by just three points and unhappy with the production of his starters, UPIKE head coach Kelly Wells subbed in five new bodies just five minutes into the second half. The group included reserve guard Tyrone Sherman, who had played in just eight games all season.

The freshly inserted lineup didn't shy away from the challenge as Sherman immediately completed a 3-point play near the basket. Seconds later, Sherman drew a foul and made two free throws, followed by back-to-back threes by Trey Rakes and suddenly UPIKE was up by 10.

St. Catharine responded with a 6-0 run to get back within four briefly, but UPIKE's momentum hadn't completely gone away as it outscored the Patriots 22-8 over the next six minutes with the starters trickling back into the lineup.

Now comfortably in the lead, the Bears (23-3, 10-3 MSC) were able to use the final three minutes as a proper sendoff to their five seniors: Macari Brooks, Colt Chapman, Christian Leach, Jackson Hussey and K.K. Simmons.

The group left the game to a standing ovation with about a minute to play and a 19-point lead.

Leach led all scorers with 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds, while Brooks chipped in with a double-double of 17 points and 11 boards. Simmons and Rakes joined them in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively, with all 12 of Simmons' coming from behind the arc.

Chris Johnson led St. Catharine (7-19, 3-10 MSC) with 18 points and 10 rebounds, but the effort wasn't enough to outweigh SCC being outshot from the field 53 to 41 percent and being outscored 24-7 off the bench.

The Patriots held their largest first-half lead of three points twice, with the last coming five minutes in at 12-9 on a three by Bryson Harris. Their last lead of the game came a minute later when Brandon Bobb Jones' floater in the paint made it 14-12.

A 6-0 UPIKE run followed, including two straight baskets by Brooks, to put it in front for good. St. Catharine cut the lead down to a single points a couple times early in the second half, but was never able to get over the hump.

Up Next

UPIKE travels to Cumberlands at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday in Williamsburg, Ky.

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