Fitzgerald leads Pats past Bears

PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Senior Luke Fitzgerald poured in 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead 12th-ranked Cumberlands past Pikeville 79-71 Saturday afternoon.

The win gives the Patriots the two seed in next week’s Mid-South Conference tournament in Frankfort. Cumberlands finished the regular season 24-6 overall, 9-3 in the Mid-South Conference.

The loss dropped Pikeville to 19-11 overall and 7-5 in the league. Entering with the chance to be the two seed, the loss, combined with Lindsey Wilson’s win over St. Catharine, drops the Bears to the four seed and a first-round matchup with WVU Tech at 8 p.m. Friday night.

Cumberlands led the last 28 minutes of the game, but a three-point play by freshman Kane Belcher with 2:33 left brought the Bears within four (71-67). But Cumberlands got a layup by Fitzgerald and four free throws from junior Chad Byron to push the lead to 10 and pull away for the win.

Fitzgerald was joined in double figures by junior Josh Phillips, who had 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Byron finished with nine, as did junior guard Nathaniel Mitchell.

Pikeville got 20 points from junior guard Josh Samarco to lead three players in double figures. Senior J.B. Smiley tossed in 19 to go with four assists and four rebounds. Sophomore Justin Hicks finished with 11 points.

Junior center Anthony Smith had nine points and 10 rebounds, while senior center Ewan Linton pulled down five of his nine off the offensive glass.

Pikeville lost for only the second time all season at home despite committing only eight turnovers in the game. Cumberlands gave it up 14 times in the loss.

PC