PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- For the first time this season in conference play, UPIKE men's basketball never trailed and was able to defeat Cumberland (Tenn.) on Saturday, 77-70.
UPIKE snapped a recent string of slow starts and played arguably the best opening eight minutes so far this season to build an early lead. The trio of Xaviar Gaona, Luke Layhew and Jayvian Delacruz were firing on all cylinders early as the Bears built a 17-9 lead heading into the first timeout. Gaona seemed to have an extra spark today, as he hit three 3-pointers in the first half, en route to a team-high 22 points. It was the first time this season that he has led the Bears in scoring.
The Bears would build its first half lead to double digits multiple times before heading into halftime with a seven-point lead. Much like the women's game that had occurred just prior, the Pikeville men were able to get to the free throw line early and often Thursday, which got the Phoenix in some rough foul trouble.
It was obvious from the tip that UPIKE's game plan was to antagonize star forward Ty Sean Powell, which worked beautifully. The Bears defense held Powell — who entered the game averaging 17.3 points in his last six games — to just nine points and made him commit nine turnovers while fouling out with over five minutes to go.
A lot of Powell's slack was picked up by Tranard Chester who scored 15 points after halftime to try to keep Cumberland close. The Phoenix were able to put doubt into Bears' fans minds when they pulled within three points with 10 minutes to go, but UPIKE answered with a 13-0 run which essentially secured the win for the Bears.
Cumberland fought valiantly and cut the UPIKE lead in half in the closing minutes, but the Phoenix never got within seven as the Bears eventually dug home the dagger at the free-throw stripe. UPIKE shot 80 percent from the line Thursday, its second highest mark on the season.
After the four games across the Mid-South Conference, UPIKE now sits in a three-way tie with Georgetown and Life atop the conference standings at 3-1. UPIKE's next opportunity to move ahead in that race will come Saturday afternoon when the Bears face Lindsey Wilson on the road.
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