WILSON, N.C. – Fireworks are always expected when Hunt and Fike square off.

A month after completing a 13-point second-half comeback to stun the Demons 73-71 at the Farris & Farris Holiday Tournament, the Warriors ensured the script would not flip.

An electric first half saw Hunt build up a 10-point advantage that would hold the rest of the way in a 75-62 conference win.

The opening 16 minutes were a show. With each basket, the crowd found another octave. The two sides traded as many threes as they did dunks.

All seven of Hunt’s triples fell in the first half, including three from Austin Joyner, and a gym-rattling shot at the first quarter horn by freshman Tyler Pridgen.

In his return to the lineup, Fike sophomore Da’qavis Greene made his presence felt with a pair of jaw-dropping dunks. 9 of his 11 points came in the first half. It helped the Demons get within two possessions but 36-32 was as close as things would get.

The Warriors led 19-14 after one and extended the advantage to 42-32 at the half.

Hunt’s defense stole the show in the second half. The Warriors limited Fike to eight second-half field goals and only three in the fourth quarter.

Stops on the defensive end helped the Warriors hold off any chance of a comeback. Jayonta Blanchard’s seven points in the fourth slashed the deficit to six, but A.J. Hampton had an answer with six in the final period to put the game on ice.

Hampton’s one-handed jam in the final minutes gave him 13 points to pair with his four blocks. Joyner, who exited early in the fourth with an injury, led all scorers with 23. Pridgen finished in double figures with 14.

Fike shot 14-for-14 at the free throw line, but three combined second-half field goals for Greene and William Monk made the difference. Monk led the Demons in scoring with 20.

BOX SCORE
HUNT: 19-23-14-19 75
FIKE: 14-18-15-15 62

SCORING
HUNT: Joyner 23, Pridgen 14, Hampton 13, Alston 6, Watson 5, Chadwick 3, Hickman 3, Hines 2, Bryant 2
FIKE: Monk 20, Blanchard 17, Greene 11, Loftin 8, Jones 6

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