HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - University of Pikeville men's basketball took on Marshall University in an exhibition game to open the 2024-25 season.
LA Walker scored the first points for the Bears after drawing a foul and sinking a pair of free throws. Walker knocked down a three-pointer shortly after. Later on, the Herd held an 18-15 lead before the Bears went on a 6-0 run. Keynan Cutlip knocked down a pair of free throws then Tyler Best and Nick Robinson knocked down a jump shot each.
The Thundering Herd came back with a 12-2 run. The Herd went on another run late in the first half before Connor Lane drained a three-pointer before the halftime break to end the run. Marshall led 47-31 at the half.
UPIKE was led in first half by Keynan Cutlip. Cutlip scored eight points in the first twenty, shooting 2-4 from the field, 1-2 from beyond the arc, and 3-4 from the free throw line. Newcomer Tyler Best led UPIKE with three first half rebounds.
UPIKE trailed the Thundering Herd 47-31 at the half. As a team, the Bears shot 47.8% from the field, 36.4% from beyond the arc, and were 5-6 from the free throw line. UPIKE held Marshall to shooting 45.5% in the first half.
Just like he did in the first half, LA Walker opened the second half with five points. Bradley Bunch scored seven points in the first seven minutes of the second half, including a three-pointer to cut Marshall's lead to nine. After the early run, however, the Herd went on a 16-6 run to go ahead 69-50.
Shortly after, UPIKE went on a 9-0 run to cut MU's lead to 72-61. The run was led by a pair of layups by Bunch and three points each by Keian Worrix and Cutlip. Marshall would pull away late, but the game was capped off with a three-pointer by junior Ethan Colegrove. Marshall won the exhibition by a final count of 90-73.
LA Walker led the Bears with 17 points and tied Tyler Best with five rebounds. Walker was 5-10 from the field and 3-4 from three-point range. Bradley Bunch had a big second half, scoring 11 points and finishing the game second in points with 13. Bunch was also second in rebounds with four boards. Keynan Cutlip also reached double figures in scoring with 12 points and three boards.
UPIKE shot 50% from the field and 38.5% from three-point range in the second half, both improvements from the first half. For the game, UPIKE shot 49.1% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc.
Coach Tigh Compton's team opens the regular season in Pulaski, Tenn., against the UT-Southern Firehawks on November 1st.
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