LEBANON, Tenn. -- Despite making just one field goal in the final six minutes, the seventh-ranked University of Pikeville men's basketball team found a way to win 73-69 at Cumberland on Thursday.

While baskets may have been rare in the late stages, most of the second half was just what the doctor ordered for the Bears.

After trailing by nine at halftime, UPIKE outscored the Phoenix 35-22 in the second half, including a 12-2 spurt to start the frame that gave UPIKE a 50-49 lead on a Colt Chapman layup.

Before that, the last Pikeville lead came at the 8:51 mark of the first half at 24-23.  

The lone field goal in the final six minutes was another Chapman layup that put UPIKE up 71-66 with less than three minutes to play. The Bears missed their next four shots though, allowing a free throw and jumper by Mark Brown to make it a two-point game with a minute left.

In a pressure-packed situation, Trey Rakes came through for the Bears at the free-throw line with two makes to go up by four as Cumberland (11-17, 4-11 MSC) missed from three and on a layup as time expired.

K.K. Simmons and Christian Leach paced UPIKE (24-4, 11-4 MSC) with 18 points each. Simmons connected on four 3-pointers as he was the only Bear to make a triple all night. Macari Brooks chipped in with 14 points and Chapman finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Cumberland shot better from the field at 46 to 44 percent, but UPIKE made two more free throws, one extra field goal and outrebounded the Phoenix 40-33.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair for the first 15 minutes as it was tied 34-34 with 4:25 on the clock. Cumberland was the first team to put together any real separation, outscoring the Bears 13-4 to take a 47-38 lead into halftime.

Mark Brown led Cumberland with 19 points, including three 3-pointers and Marquel Hickerson and Will Shelton added 12 points each.

Up Next

UPIKE travels to Columbia, Ky., to take on Lindsey Wilson at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday.

-UPIKE-