PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Junior guard Korbin Spencer drove into traffic and sank a running layup that beat the play-clock horn with 1.8 seconds left to give the University of Pikeville a 71-69 win over Wilberforce (Ohio) University on Tuesday night in the opening round of the Mid-South Conference men's basketball tournament.

With the win, the fifth-seeded Bears advance to the quarterfinals where they will play No. 4 Shawnee State University on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time in Bowling Green.

The game was tight most of the way, with five ties and 10 lead changes.

UPIKE (18-11) came into the game with a pair of regular-season wins over the Bulldogs in which it sank 54-of-61 from the free throw line. But on Tuesday the Bears struggled through 15-of-35 (42.9 percent) shooting from the stripe.

The Bears led 69-66 with 3:44 left after freshman Keian Worrix split the defense with a laser pass that found sophomore Mark Vance Jr. for a layup.

They would then go quiet until the end. In the interim, Wilberforce managed only a free throw from senior Bobby McFadden and a layup by freshman Jamir Hymes, the latter of which tied the game with 1:27 left.

The Bears missed a pair of layups on their next possession but forced a Bulldog turnover with 32 seconds left to set the stage for the final possession.

UPIKE's balanced scoring attack saw three players reach double figures, led by Spencer's 15. Senior Teddy Parham Jr. followed with 14 while sophomore Devin Collins added 11.

The Bears were successful on the glass, winning that battle 48-32. Freshman Bradley Bunch matched his season high with 12 rebounds, while Parham pulled down 11.

Spencer's three assists led nine Bears' helpers. He also grabbed eight rebounds.

Wilberforce (3-24) had four players in double figures. McFadden and sophomore Kyle Cardenas led the way with a dozen each. Cory Davis finished with 11 while Cali Davis scored 10.

McFadden led the Bulldog efforts on the glass with 10 rebounds.

--UPIKE—