PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- While the University of Pikeville eSports team started off the League of Legends season with a win after a forfeit by Black Hills State, the real competition continued on Saturday with a 2-0 loss to Chicago.

That loss comes on the heels of another 2-0 loss to IUPUI last week, a team in the championship picture with athletes ranked at a professional level.

In the first game against Chicago, the Maroons came out with a strong early game plan. With a lot of early jungle pressure, they were able to set UPIKE's Brayden Turner behind early in the game and use that advantage to get the game rolling in their favor.  In the second game, Turner tried to return the favor and was able to get a pair of early kills. UPIKE and Chicago fought through the mid game and the Bears trailed just 15-14 at the thirty-minute mark. 

Layne Cumby was able to gain UPIKE a massive advantage in a Baron fight by getting a 5-man Cassiopeia ult. UPIKE kept up the fight for a while in the second game, but eventually Chicago was able to close it out to win the series 2-0. 

IUPUI featured a Challenger rank mid-lane player who was able to carry its team through both games. UPIKE was playing from behind for most of the first game, with IUPUI's Drutagan able to get a strong lead built up. He was able to start roaming early in the game to keep UPIKE from setting up any momentum in most lanes.  In the second game, Drutagan became even stronger, leading IUPUI to the 2-0 win. 

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The Bears are set to take on Western Michigan at Noon ET on Feb. 4.

-UPIKE-