Williamsburg, KY – After a narrow escape in Crestview Hills just days ago, UPIKE men's basketball returned to action for yet another MSC thriller against 11^th-ranked University of the Cumberlands. The game was intense from start to finish, with UPIKE sealing the 93-88 victory in the final minute of overtime. The win evens the Bears at 5-5 on the season while improving their conference mark to 3-4.

The undeniable x-factor for the Bears was junior guard Taevon Horton who shot his way to a career-best 31-point performance. Horton drained several clutch threes and finished 4-9 from the beyond the arc, while pulling in five rebounds. All said, the Fairmont, West Virginia native shot 11-17 from the floor while going 5-7 from the free throw line.

Korbin Spencer was a crucial part of the overtime effort, grabbing a handful of key rebounds and connecting on the final free throws to secure the win. Spencer tallied 19 points in 43 minutes of action, going 3-6 from deep and a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe. Malcolm Green and Jordan Perry came alive in big moments as well, completing the team effort throughout the homestretch. Both Perry and Green finished with 10 points.

In the opening half, the first ten minutes were played closely as the Patriots got out to an early lead thanks to a few quick buckets. UPIKE's offense slowly came to life in the paint with Cumberlands steady building upon their lead, going up 10-3 with just over 15 minutes to go. UPIKE ran with the Patriots and kept the game close enough to make a run at the lead.The turning point of the first half came within the last three minutes as Horton splashed a pair of pull-up threes. UPIKE transitioned their momentum into a 10-2 run over the final minutes of the half and led 41-31 heading into the locker room.

The pace remained intense in the second half as UC worked to chip away at the UPIKE lead. The Patriots had made progress with 10:21 to go, coming within seven until a huge three from Horton gave the Bears a 10-point cushion. To shift the momentum, UC sparked a 5-2 run over the next several minutes that once again brought them within five and the Bears ahead 67-62 at the 5:53 mark. Coming out of the media timeout, Cumberlands capitalized on a pair of empty possessions by the Bears and brought the game within one on a reverse layup as it was 67-66 with 4:42 to go.

UPIKE took advantage of opportunities from the free throw line to keep the Patriots at arms length in the final minutes of the period with Cumberlands trailing by just three points. Malcom Green thrusted past defenders on a drive to the basket with 2:00 to go, converting on the bucket to make it a three-point UPIKE lead. After a missed three by UC on the next possession, UPIKE slowed the pace to run the shot clock and a put back layup by Horton eased the burden to make it 75-70 with 1:00 to go.

The Patriots stayed resilient and hit another three in the final minute to keep them within four points, also drawing a three-point foul with 00:30 to go that kept them a step behind. UPIKE was forced to use a pair of timeouts in succession as they dealt with backcourt pressure from UC as the game approached its final half minute. The Patriots stole the ball off an impound with 0:25 to go and quickly converted on a layup to tie the game at 78 all. Neither team made good on a last shot and so as the clock hit 0:00 they headed to overtime.

Tevin Olison deserves credit for UC for single-handedly hijacking the momentum several times in the final period and OT after hitting several clutch threes. With 2:00 minutes to go in OT it was 84-82 UPIKE until Jordan Perry drilled a jumper from beyond the arc to give the Bears a five-point lead. UC answered with a bucket, a stop, and a huge game tying three pointer from Olison that locked the teams at 87 all with just 0:49 to go. Perry and Spencer iced the game with a field goal and a pair of free throws to seal the deal for UPIKE as they won 93-88.

UPIKE men's basketball returns to the hardwood on Thursday, December 7^th to take on Freed-Hardeman at home.