LEBANON, Tenn. – Third-ranked University of Pikeville blistered the nets and rolled past Cumberland University 84-58 Thursday night at the Dallas Floyd Recreation Center.

Pikeville hit 58.2 percent for the game en route to its 18th win in 20 games while improving to 9-2 in the Mid-South Conference. Cumberland University slipped to 7-12 overall, 3-8 in the conference.

In addition to their shooting, the Bears were a force on the defensive end. For the game the Bulldogs shot only 35.9 percent overall and 21.4 percent from downtown.

They did hit 9-of-10 from the line.

The win, combined with Lindsey Wilson being idle, pushed the Bears a half-game ahead of the Blue Raiders on top of the league standings as the second half begins.

For the Bears, the remarkable shooting was led by Jamar “Deuce” Briscoe, whose 28 points came on 12-of-16 shooting from the field. The 6-0 senior also had four rebounds in 29 minutes of action.

Pikeville, which trailed only when Cumberland scored the first basket of the game, led by as many as 34 before the Bulldogs scored the final eight points of the night.

Briscoe was joined in double figures by Trevor Setty. The 6-8 senior moved into 10th place all alone on the school’s all-time scoring list with his 11-point effort. He and junior Greg Magee had seven rebounds apiece to lead the Bears to a 36-29 advantage on the glass.

Senior Chris Johnson added 10 markers on 4-of-5 shooting to go with three assists and three steals.

Cumberland also had three players in double figures, paced by junior guard Brian Blackmon’s 14. He added five rebounds.

The other double-digit scorers, juniors Daniel McFadden (12) and Charles Stewart (10), both came off the bench.