Hopkinsville used balanced scoring and strong third-quarter defense to nab a 56-50 road win at Muhlenberg County Friday. The Tigers improved 2-1 with the win.
Only five players reached the scoring column for Hoptown, but three of them were in double figures. JaMarcus Burks came off the bench to score all 13 of his points in the second half. Alijah Watts topped the Tiger scorers with 14 points. Watts also had five assists and four rebounds.
The Tigers led 22-18 at halftime thanks to a Daisjuan Mercer steal and three-point play in the final seconds of the quarter.
Hoptown came out strong in the third quarter and extended their lead to 45-28. Burks scored half of Hoptown’s 20 points in the frame.
The Mustangs were able to gnaw into the lead in the final minutes of the quarter and trailed 42-28 with eight minutes to go.
Nash Divine, the son of Muhlenberg County native Brad Divine who played at both Eastern Kentucky and Western Kentucky University, scored nine of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter.
The Mustangs were able to get as close as four points in the final minute, but Arthur McKnight knocked down a pair of free throws with seven seconds to go to push the lead to the final margin of six points.
Reece Jesse added nine points, eight rebounds, and three blocked shots for Hoptown, who shot 51-percent from the field but got outrebounded 33-23.
The loss was the first in four games for Muhlenberg County, who is coached by former Christian County skipper Kyle Eades.
The Hopkinsville has won five of the eight career meetings with the Mustangs. The Tigers finish their first week of play with a record of 2-1 and will play Webster County Tuesday in their home opener.
Hopkinsville 10 12 20 14— 56
Muhlenberg County 7 11 10 22– 50
Hopkinsville [2-1] – Watts 14, Burks 13, McKnight 11, Mercer 9, Jesse 9
Muhlenberg County [3-1] – Divine 19, Summers 9, Lovan 7, McCoy 5, Vincent 3, Johnston 3, Carver 2, Rose 2
