UPIKE Athletics

PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Senior Issac Stanback turned in another double-double to power the University of Pikeville to a 69-67 win over Milligan (Tenn.) University on Saturday afternoon at the UPike Gym.
 
Stanback, a forward from Chicago, had 19 points and 11 rebounds in the win. He did so thanks to 7-of-10 from the field and pulling six rebounds off the offensive glass.
 
The Bears broke open a tight game by scoring seven straight points in less than two minutes. Leading 9-7, the Bears got consecutive layups from sophomore Bradley Bunch, junior Kyonte Thomas and grad student Korbin Spencer.
 
Spencer turned his into a three-point play, giving the Bears a 16-7 lead with 14:12 left in the half.
 
The Buffs responded, however, scoring nine of the next 10 points. Layups by junior Pip Korent and graduate studentFollie Bogan preceded a three-point bucket by freshman Luke Lentz.
 
After the Bears got a free throw by Thomas, Lentz scored on a layup to pull Milligan within a single point, 17-16, with 11:58 left.
 
UPike led 28-25 with 5:49 left in the half when Bunch scored on a layup and Spencer nailed a three to push the lead to 33-25.
 
The edge was 35-30 before the Bears scored the last seven of the frame. Senior Eloge Ntumba began it with a layup, followed by a three and two free throws, all by Spencer, to make the lead 42-30 at the break.
 
The teams traded punches for the first 10 minutes of the second half before Milligan made its move. Trailing 59-48 after a Stanback three-point play, Lintz sank a jumper before senior Finn McClure nailed a three to pull the Buffs within six (59-53) with 9:32 left.
 
Worrix had a layup with 6:27 left to push the lead to 63-55 before another mini outburst drew Milligan within striking distance. McClure had a three-point play followed by a layup, and with 4:25 left, the Bears advantage was cut to 63-60.
 
After the teams traded layups, graduate student Jeremy Dillon gave the Bears some breathing room with a three from the corner, but it lasted only 11 seconds as sophomore Lincoln Thomae answered to make the score 66-63 with only 32 seconds left.
 
The Bears missed a front-end opportunity to make the lead two possessions, and Bogan made two free throws and the spread was a single point with 22 seconds remaining.
 
Worrix made a free throw with 17 seconds left to get the lead to two. The Buffaloes had two three-point opportunities to take the lead down the stretch, but both missed, giving the Bears a hard-earned win.
 
Stanback was joined in double figures by Spencer, who had 16 and six rebounds, and Worrix, who had 10. Thomas led the way with five assists.
 
UPike (1-1, 1-1 in the AAC) held on despite shooting only 54.5 percent from the free throw line and 4-of-10 in the second half.
 
Milligan (1-1, 1-1) was led by McClure and Bogan with 15 markers apiece. McClure added seven assists while Bogan led the team with eight rebounds. Junior Sam Gold had 10 points and six rebounds as well.
 
UPike will be back in action on Tuesday night, hosting Kentucky Christian University in its first game at the Appalachian Wireless Arena. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.