LAKE WALES, Fla. – In a match up against the No. 1 ranked team in NAIA Division I, No. 13 Warner University men's basketball team lost a hard fought game to the University of Pikeville (Ky.) 73-66.  The Royals overcame a 10-point halftime deficit and led by as many as six points in the second half before a late rally by the top-ranked Bears prevented the upset.  The loss in the third of the season for Royals (10-3) and their second against a top 20 team; the Bears improve to 13-1 with the win.

The top-ranked Bears came out blazing in the first half forcing three Warner timeouts in the first 10 minutes of action.  The Bears led 26-13 at the 10:05 mark behind 63.6% shooting the first half.  The Royals' offense countered with 34.4% shooting in the opening half and went just 2-of-14 from behind the arc to start the game.

Down the stretch, however, the Royals began to find their shots and used a 13-2 run to narrow a 19-point deficit back to single digits, 34-26, with 3:45 to go before halftime.  The Bears led 40-30 heading into the break.  Warren Hall led the way in the first half scoring 13 points for the Royals.

The Royals turned the tide in the second half with a 21-5 run over the first nine minutes that put Warner out in front for the first time 51-45.  Eddie Delegal led the charge with 19 second-half points. 

Despite shooting 37.5% in the second half, the Bears made shots when they needed and kept the Royals off balance down the stretch.  With 3:48 left in regulation Pikeville's Christian Leach broke a 57-57 tie with a pair of free throws.  From there the Royals went 0-for-4 from the field with two turnovers as the Bears ran their lead out to nine, 68-59, with 58 seconds to go.  Antonio Ansley got the Royals to within six points in waning seconds but it was as close as they would come.

Behind a strong second half performance, Delegal led all scorers with 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field.  He also grabbed nine rebounds, had two blocks and two steals.  Hall finished with 21 points and eight rebounds.  Josh Ellis scored 11 points before fouling out.  He also had three rebounds and one blocked shot.

Defensively, the Royals held the Bears to less than 90 points scored for just the second time in 14 games this season.  They forced 19 turnovers and had 11 steals.  Nick Macon led with three steals of his own.

The No. 13 Royals return to Sun Conference play next week with two rivalry games on the schedule.  First on Wednesday, Jan. 6, the Royals head over to Lakeland, Fla. to take on Southeastern University at 7:30 p.m.  Then on Saturday, Jan. 9, the Royals play host to Webber International University in a 4 p.m. tip-off.


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