UPIKE Athletics

 
BLUEFIELD, Va, -- The University of Pikeville men's basketball team learned Tuesday morning that it was ranked No. 20 in the latest national poll. On Tuesday evening, it learned that simply put a target on its back in the AAC.
 
The Bears battled back from a nine-point second-half deficit to beat Bluefield University 75-72.
 
UPike is now 3-1 on the season with the win in its league opener. Bluefield slipped to 0-4, 0-1.
 
Leading 3-2 early, the Bears ran off 11 unanswered points to take control early in the game. The run began with a three by sophomore Jace Copley before junior Robby Todd nailed two in a row. When junior Jaylan Rigdon hit a jumper with 15:13 left, the UPike lead was 14-2.
 
The Rams got back in it with eight in a row, a stretch during which UPike got only two shots. William O'Shields hit a jump shot with 11:44 remaining to pull Bluefield within five at 19-14.
 
The lead was 24-18 before Bluefield had another big run, scoring 13 straight to take the lead. Four players scored as the home team went 6 of 7 from the floor and again limited UPike to only two tries from the floor.
 
When Tyler Suber scored with 5:53 left in the half, the Rams were suddenly in front 31-24.
 
A layup by senior Justin Sapoi with eight seconds left pulled the Bears within four, 38-34, at the half.
 
In the second half, Bluefield's advantage grew to as many as nine, 57-48, with 9:00 to play when Danard Hollingsworth scored for the second straight trip.
 
Bluefield led 66-60 when the Bears finally put together a run to tie the score. A 11-4 stretch that took 2:29 off the board saw the Bears hit three three-pointers, including two in a row to start it by Rigdon.
 
When Copley found Todd for a layup with 3:36 left, the score was even at 68.
 
The Bears brought the ball inbounds under their basket. Rigdon triggered it to Blevins, who dumped it right back to him to finally give the Bears a two-point lead with 1:09 left.
 
It was short-lived, as O'Shields hit a jumper with 56 seconds left to tie it once more, but a jumper by Todd put the Bears in front for good with 31 seconds left.
 
A free throw by Copley with four seconds left set the final margin.
 
Blevins led four Bears in double figures with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Rigdon followed with 16 while leading the club with four assists and two steals.
 
Copley and Todd entered 13 points apiece.
 
O'Shields led two Rams in double digits with 18 points. Hollingsworth had 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Isaiah Sanders had eight points and 10 assists in the loss.
 
UPike will be on the road Saturday, traveling to meet Columbia International (S.C.) University in a game scheduled for a 4 p.m. opening tip.