PIKEVILLE, Ky. – In what may be the standard for conference play this season, UPIKE used its defense to propel itself to victory over Cumberland on Saturday, 66-51.

With the win, UPIKE pushes its record to 12-0, the best record in the nation, and finishes a perfect opening weekend to Mid-South Conference play.

The Bears held Cumberland to 38 percent shooting overall – 27 percent in the second half – to limit the Phoenix to the fewest points surrendered to a conference opponent since UVA-Wise could only score 48 in 2013.

However, it as more than just the shooting defense that was strong for the Bears. They also blocked five shots (ties season high) and forced 14 turnovers which turned into 13 points.

Outside of Cumberland's Jalen Duke, the rest of the team as a whole only shot 9-for-37 (24 percent).

Cumberland was able to match UPIKE's intensity on offense for the first few minutes and stuck around with the Bears as a result. The contest was even tied at 23 after the first 15 minutes, but Pikeville went on an 8-0 run to take the game's first substantial lead. UPIKE went into halftime with a five-point lead.

A majority of UPIKE's offense came from Jordan Perry, who led all scorers with 21 points and Luke Layhew, who picked up his third double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The Bears immediately came out of halftime to drop the hammer on the Phoenix, opening on an 8-0 run which held Cumberland scoreless for the half's first six minutes.

After that point, the lead only got back into single digits once and UPIKE built it up to 18 points in the final minute.

While it wasn't a flashy effort for UPIKE on offense, it was a methodical, fundamental one as they committed just eight turnovers and went 75 (12-16) percent from the free throw stripe.

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UPIKE will have all of finals week off before returning at 7:30 p.m. on December 17 to face Alice Lloyd at Appalachian Wireless Arena.

-UPIKE-