Marietta, GA – UPIKE men's basketball found themselves in another down-to-the-wire battle with Life University on Monday night and were edged out in the final minutes by a final score of 74-69. The loss drops the Bears to 6-8 (4-7 MSC) on the season.  

Coming off a career-night against Lindsey Wilson last week, Darius Love continued to show out on Monday night in a 21 point, eight rebound effort to lead the Bears. Love drained eight of 12 from the field, adding a three-pointer. Christian Sweazie was responsible for a handful of critical buckets, finishing with 15 points. Malcolm Green rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points on 4-6 from the floor.  

Green kick-started the Bears offense in the first quarter after nailing a three from range that gave the Bears their first lead of the game. The next four minutes were an intense back and forth with four lead lead changes between the teams and with 14:10 to go, UPIKE had a one-point 9-8 lead. It was 11-11 with 11:00 to go until Love dropped back to back buckets followed by a layup by Jamir Simpson that gave the Bears their biggest lead of the ballgame at 18-11.  

The Running Eagles remained on their heels as Simpson notched another pair of free throws until Sweazie drilled a three with under to minutes to go in the half to put UPIKE up five. Life knocked down a triple right before the half came to a close but it was the Bears up 30-27 at the break.  

The game remained up for grabs in the opening minutes of the second half with Life within a point until free throws from Love at 17:17 gave the Bears a three-point cushion. The Running Eagles slowly built some momentum after a pair of productive possessions and went out on a 8-0 run, taking a 41-34 lead with just over 16 minutes to play. Green took matters into his own hands out of a timeout, powering through a gauntlet of Life defenders to sink an and-one bucket to make it a two-possession game once more. Love also converted on an old fashion three-point play two possessions later, putting the Bears on the doorstep as they trailed 41-40.  

The next several minutes were intense, with UPIKE working to overcome the Life lead. Sweazie hit another key three-pointer to give the Bears a 45-44 lead but was answered by a triple from the Running Eagles on the next possession. Approaching the final eight minutes of play, UPIKE was still fighting within a point after almost two points of no scoring from either squad. The Bears got the break they needed when Love pulled up and splashed a deep three to tie the game at 7:29. Two possessions later, UPIKE took their first lead in over seven minutes when Sweazie converted on a three assisted by Spencer. 

Sweazie and Love teamed up to complete a 6-0 run over the next minute and a half as the Bears headed into the final 5:00 of the contest with a 65-56 lead. The Running Eagles persisted though, scoring five unanswered points before silenced by Green with 3:20 left to play. After an excellent stretch, Life turned several free throw opportunities into points and things got interesting as they tied the game at 68 with less than 1:30 remaining. Life would convert on the lone field goal in the final minute as both teams went back and forth splitting at the free throw line. UPIKE couldn't sink the last minute basket, and after another Life trip to the line the Bears fell 74-69.  

UPIKE will get another chance at the Running Eagles, this time at home as they are slated to rematch with Life on Thursday, January 21^st.