Second-half comeback leads Bears past Eagles

PIPPA PASSES, Ky. – It was a classic, typical Pikeville/Alice Lloyd game, complete with ejections, bruh-ha-has … and a fierce Pikeville College rally for the win.

The short-handed Bears ripped the nets for 75 percent second-half shooting, including 83 percent from the arc and sank 76 percent from the line for an 88-76 win Tuesday night.

Trailing 43-31 at the break, Pikeville went to something completely foreign to it – a 2-3 zone – and worked it in combination with its half-court 1-3-1 to stifle the Eagles. After a 53 percent first half, the Eagles were held to 39 percent second-half shooting as the Bears rallied for the win.

Things got hostile momentarily at the 2:03 mark of the first half. A tie-up under the Alice Lloyd basket resulted in the ejection of four players – including three Bears – before the fog cleared.

The result was Pikeville playing the last 22 minutes with only eight uniformed players. Only six saw action as the Bears came alive and caught the Eagles for the win.

Five Bears reached double figures, led by senior Charles Bronson’s 23 points and 16 rebounds thanks to 9-of-12 shooting from the floor. Sophomore Justin Hicks came alive off the bench, scoring all 17 points in the second half.

Senior J.B. Smiley followed with 16 points and five assists, while senior Ewan Linton tossed in 14 and pulled down six rebounds. Senior Haakim Johnson added 12.

Alice Lloyd (6-2) was led by senior Rodney Mitchell, who fired in 18 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Senior guard Will Dillard, who entered the game third in the country in NAIA Div. II at 25.3 points per game, joined him in double digits with 16 points. His complete performance included seven assists and five rebounds.

Pikeville (5-2) returns to action on Friday night against Bluefield (Va.) College in the Bluefield State (W.Va.) tournament.