KINGSPORT, Tenn.—The Fire struggled to keep pace with the hot outside shooting by Pikeville in a 71-52 loss in their final game at The Show held at the MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center.
UPike (6-2) connected on seven of their 13 long-range attempts in the first 20 minutes, using a 10-0 run and an 11-0 run during the first half to lead 37-22 at halftime.
Southeastern (4-5) missed on its first seven shots from 3-point land but got back into it with a 17-2 run spanning 4:17 that saw the Fire make seven of their eight shots and force four turnovers.
Joshua Blazquez knocked down the team's first triple of the game at the 12:42 mark from the far corner and turned it into a four-point play on a made free throw off of a foul to get the Fire back within single digits at 45-36.
A monster dunk by
Anthony Duncan charging down the middle of the lane got it to a two-possession game at 47-41 with 11:22 left, but the Bears answered right back with a 12-1 run to take their biggest lead of the day at 17 (59-42) with 7:48 left.
Pikeville finished the game 13-of-27 from 3-point range compared to SEU's 2-of-13.
Duncan led the way for the Fire with a team-high 17 points, going 7-of-10 from the field and added six rebounds. Blazquez was also in double figures with 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting.
Makai Vassell was the game's leading rebounder with eight.
Southeastern returns to action on December 11
th when it hosts Trinity Baptist at 7 p.m.
