PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Freshman Tayden Owens sank two free throws with 5.6 seconds left to give Reinhardt (Ga.) University an 85-83 win over the University of Pikeville on Monday night at the Appalachian Wireless Arena.
 
The Bears had a chance, but a three-point shot by sophomore Keynan Cutlip rimmed out, and a putback by sophomore Bradley Bunch was ruled to come after the horn.
 
After going more than a calendar year without a home loss, the Bears have now dropped two straight and into a virtual tie with Union College in the AAC standings.
 
UPike started the game hot, scoring the game's first six en route to a 9-2 lead. Senior Issac Stanback got it started before sophomore Bradley Bunch scored on consecutive trips. After freshman Nekhi Fisher got the Eagles on the scoreboard, senior Jeremy Dillon nailed a three to make it a seven-point lead with 17:09 left in the half.
 
Reinhardt answered with a 13-1 run to take the lead. The Eagles hit 5-of-7, including three three-point baskets. Junior Nate Jones had seven, including the jumper with 11:54 left to get his team a 17-12 lead.
 
Pikeville settled down, and three minutes later scored 11 unanswered points. The Bears made all four of their shots, including three triples, and when sophomore Keynan Cutlip scored on a layup, they led 30-21 with 7:20 to play in the half.
 
An 11-2 run later in the half pushed the Bears in front by 15. They hit three more three-point baskets, including one by sophomore Wade Pelfrey to make the score 41-26 with 3:22 left.
 
The halftime lead was 45-38.
 
The Bears used a 7-0 run early in the second half to build a 14-point lead. Cutlip hit another three before Bunch scored inside and sophomore Keian Worrix hit a jumper to make it 56-42 with 15:10 left.
 
That's when the Eagles scored 12 unanswered points to get back in the game. Five different players scored and when senior Tyler Smith nailed two free throws, the UPike lead was down to two, 56-54, with 10:41 left in the game.
 
A layup by sophomore Mitchel Kennedy tied the game at 58 with 9:14 to play.
 
From there it was touch and go the rest of the way. UPike built leads of six and seven before the Eagles battled back. Two free throws by grad student Derrian Reed was followed by a Smith three-pointer that put Reinhardt on top 83-81 with 41 seconds left.
 
Bunch tied the game with two free throws with 25.2 seconds left.
 
Bunch led the Bears with 20 points, nine rebounds and tied for team honors with four assists. Cutlip was 4-of-7 from the arc to finish with 19, while Stanback had 14 points and six rebounds.
 
Jones led all scorers with 21 for the Eagles. Four other players reached double figures, all coming off the Reinhardt bench.
 
Smith had 13, Owens finished with 12, Reed chipped in with 11 and Fisher 10.
 
Pikeville fell to 16-6 on the season and 14-4 in the league, while Reinhardt improved to 11-10 overall, 10-8 in the conference.
 
UPike will be back in action on Wednesday night, playing host to Bryan (Tenn.) College. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.