King hits FTs, sweeps Bears; PC up to 13 in ratings
February 8, 2010
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Moments after learning they’d moved up in the NAIA Div. I men’s basketball poll, Pikeville College took the court in their final nonconference game of the season, an 85-77 loss to King College.
King, 16-4 after opening 0-2, got the attention of the basketball world on Feb. 1 when they knocked off Appalachian State University 87-76. The Tornado are transitioning to NCAA Div. II.
Pikeville (19-4) found out just as the lineups were being announced that it had moved up two places to No. 13 in the NAIA rankings this week. The unexplainable ratings saw the Bears move up two places after suffering a home loss the week after they’d fallen one place after two impressive road wins against Mid-South Conference competition.
All three ranked MSC teams – Campbellsville (tied for eighth) and Georgetown (17th) – moved up in the polls this week despite losing since the last poll was released a week ago.
On Monday the Bears gave King a run for its money despite being out-shot from the free throw line 37-15. To their credit, the Tornado made 30 of the 37 for 81.1 percent, a season high for made free throws. Pikeville was also solid, hitting 13 for 86.7 percent.
Pikeville led 48-43 at the half and turned in an early 7-2 run, ending with a three by freshman Trevor Setty with 16:32 left to make it a 55-45 lead.
But King responded with a 14-0 run of its own, and when junior Clarence Smith scored inside with 11:55 left, the Tornado led 59-55.
Pikeville responded in kind, scoring the next 11 points, with six coming from senior Maurice Thomas. Senior Josh Samarco hit a field goal with 9:16 left to give the Bears a 66-59 lead.
King settled in, scoring six straight to begin what was a 19-6 run to push its lead to 78-72 with 3:10 left when junior Mark Dockery followed consecutive layups by senior Elisha Murray with a three. Pikeville got no closer than four after that.
Junior Justin Hicks led the Bears with 15 points. He hit 5-of-9 from the arc and got the Bears out to an early 16-9 lead with four three-point shots in the first 3:33. He was followed by senior Jonathan Clark with 14.
Since missing back-to-back free throws on Jan. 16 in a win over Lindsey Wilson, Clark has now made 41 consecutive free throws, including all 10 on Monday.
They were joined in double digits by seniors Josh Samarco and Thomas with 12 each. Thomas added 12 rebounds to lead the Bears to a 34-33 advantage.
King got 17 from Dockery to pace four players in double figures. Murray flipped in 16, Smith 15 and senior Craig McCargo 14. On a night when free throw shooting was the clear difference, and the Tornado making 30 of 37, McCargo missed his first free toss of the season after entering the game 23-of-23.
Pikeville will be back in action on Thursday night at the East Kentucky Expo Center, hosting No. 8 Campbellsville. The women’s game begins at 6 with the men to follow; the Bears will be seeking revenge from a 63-57 loss to the Tigers to open league play on Jan. 14.
King will visit Montreat on Wednesday night.
PC
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Moments after learning they’d moved up in the NAIA Div. I men’s basketball poll, Pikeville College took the court in their final nonconference game of the season, an 85-77 loss to King College.
King, 16-4 after opening 0-2, got the attention of the basketball world on Feb. 1 when they knocked off Appalachian State University 87-76. The Tornado are transitioning to NCAA Div. II.
Pikeville (19-4) found out just as the lineups were being announced that it had moved up two places to No. 13 in the NAIA rankings this week. The unexplainable ratings saw the Bears move up two places after suffering a home loss the week after they’d fallen one place after two impressive road wins against Mid-South Conference competition.
All three ranked MSC teams – Campbellsville (tied for eighth) and Georgetown (17th) – moved up in the polls this week despite losing since the last poll was released a week ago.
On Monday the Bears gave King a run for its money despite being out-shot from the free throw line 37-15. To their credit, the Tornado made 30 of the 37 for 81.1 percent, a season high for made free throws. Pikeville was also solid, hitting 13 for 86.7 percent.
Pikeville led 48-43 at the half and turned in an early 7-2 run, ending with a three by freshman Trevor Setty with 16:32 left to make it a 55-45 lead.
But King responded with a 14-0 run of its own, and when junior Clarence Smith scored inside with 11:55 left, the Tornado led 59-55.
Pikeville responded in kind, scoring the next 11 points, with six coming from senior Maurice Thomas. Senior Josh Samarco hit a field goal with 9:16 left to give the Bears a 66-59 lead.
King settled in, scoring six straight to begin what was a 19-6 run to push its lead to 78-72 with 3:10 left when junior Mark Dockery followed consecutive layups by senior Elisha Murray with a three. Pikeville got no closer than four after that.
Junior Justin Hicks led the Bears with 15 points. He hit 5-of-9 from the arc and got the Bears out to an early 16-9 lead with four three-point shots in the first 3:33. He was followed by senior Jonathan Clark with 14.
Since missing back-to-back free throws on Jan. 16 in a win over Lindsey Wilson, Clark has now made 41 consecutive free throws, including all 10 on Monday.
They were joined in double digits by seniors Josh Samarco and Thomas with 12 each. Thomas added 12 rebounds to lead the Bears to a 34-33 advantage.
King got 17 from Dockery to pace four players in double figures. Murray flipped in 16, Smith 15 and senior Craig McCargo 14. On a night when free throw shooting was the clear difference, and the Tornado making 30 of 37, McCargo missed his first free toss of the season after entering the game 23-of-23.
Pikeville will be back in action on Thursday night at the East Kentucky Expo Center, hosting No. 8 Campbellsville. The women’s game begins at 6 with the men to follow; the Bears will be seeking revenge from a 63-57 loss to the Tigers to open league play on Jan. 14.
King will visit Montreat on Wednesday night.
PC
147 Sycamore Street
Pikeville, Kentucky 41501
606.218.5250
1.866.BEARS.00
www.pc.edu