Union Men’s Basketball Battles, Falls Late to No. 10 Pikeville
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
#10 Pikeville (KY) (24-3, 17-1) | 34 | 34 | 68 |
|
Union Commonwealth (12-15, 10-8) | 29 | 35 | 64 |
BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – The Union Commonwealth University men's basketball team (12-15, 10-8 AAC) came up just short in a tightly contested matchup, falling to Pikeville (24-3, 17-1 AAC) 68-64 on Wednesday night at Robsion Arena.
Union trailed by three points in the final minute but was unable to complete the comeback, as a late free throw sealed the win for Pikeville. Both teams entered the contest riding win streaks, with only the Bears' streak remaining intact.
Ali Sakho controlled the paint for the Bulldogs, finishing with a team-high 19 points on an efficient 7-of-9 shooting performance. Kaleb Hedgepeth added 13 points, while Dallas Rufus chipped in 11, as the trio accounted for all of Union's double-digit scorers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half: Pikeville 34, Union Commonwealth 29
The opening minutes featured back-and-forth scoring, with Pikeville holding a slim 5-4 edge early. The Bears then went on a 10-2 run beginning at the 16:57 mark to build a 15-6 lead. Pikeville extended its advantage to as many as 13 at 30-17 before Union closed the half strong, using a 12-4 run to trim the deficit to five at halftime, 34-29.
Second Half: Pikeville 68, Union Commonwealth 64
Union's defense set the tone coming out of the break, holding Pikeville scoreless from the field for the first three-and-a-half minutes, with the Bears' only points coming at the free throw line. With 10 minutes remaining, Pikeville led 50-45. The teams battled down the stretch, and Union pulled within three at 67-64 with nine seconds left. A made free throw pushed the Bears' lead to four, and the Bulldogs were unable to rally in the closing moments.
To see the Baymont Inn Player of the Game, click here.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will return to Robsion Arena for the final time this season on Saturday, Feb. 21, when they host Truett McConnell in the regular-season finale. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
