Men's Basketball Score 61 Points in Second Half to Beat No. 21 Pikeville

ATHENS, Tenn.- The men's basketball team scored 61 points in the second half to win their most recent AAC game on Saturday. TWU defeated the No. 21 ranked University of Pikeville Bears 88-82.

Pikeville came out strong, capitalizing on early turnovers and executing well in transition. Tennessee Wesleyan struggled to find its offensive rhythm, with missed shots and early fouls allowing Pikeville to build a 42-27 halftime lead. Despite the slow start, the Bulldogs remained competitive, with Armando Cuardado and Amauri Young providing key baskets to keep them within striking distance. Ty Hurst was active on both ends, recording a key block and a defensive rebound early in the game. However, Pikeville's sharp shooting and control of the boards kept them ahead going into the break.

The momentum completely shifted in the second half as Tennessee Wesleyan turned up the intensity. Cuardado and Young sparked the comeback with strong finishes in the paint, while Peyton West facilitated the offense with crucial assists. At the 10-minute mark, the Bulldogs had cut the deficit to single digits, fueled by a fast-break layup from Cuardado and a three-pointer from Charles Neverdon. After battling back to tie the score 66-66 with six minutes remaining, TWU went on a 14-1 run that gave the team an 80-67 advantage. 

From there, the Bulldogs continued to apply pressure, using tough defensive stands to force Pikeville into contested shots. Stratton Lovvorn drilled a deep three-pointer to extend the lead, and Neverdon followed with a crucial steal and transition layup to put the game out of reach in the closing moments.

Hurst led with 21 points while Neverdon added 20 points and Young had 12 points.

Up next for TWU (9-12, 8-8 AAC) is a road conference game against Kentucky Christian University. The game is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.