PULASKI, Tenn. – Junior guard LA Walker sank two free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining to give the University of Pikeville a 65-61 win over Stillman (Ala.) College on Saturday afternoon in the Joe Hardin Classic.
 
The Bears put four players in double figures to complete the season-opening weekend sweep in the event, hosted by UT-Southern.
 
UPike (2-0) led 63-54 with 4:46 to play after Walker nailed a jump shot. But Stillman, a member of the HBCU Athletics Conference, scored the next seven points, the final five of them by junior Brandon Howard, and when he nailed a three-point shot with 51 seconds left, the Tigers were within a basket at 63-61.
 
The teams traded scoreless possessions, and when Walker ended Stillman's, he was fouled. He walked to the other end of the court and calmly nailed the charity tosses to seal it.
 
Walker led the Bears with 17 points while grabbing six rebounds.
 
The Bears made their first run of the game after falling behind for the first time. Trailing 7-4, UPike went on a 15-2 run that took 4:48 off the clock and gave them early control of the contest.
 
It began with consecutive three-point baskets by Walker. After junior Calvin Finch Jr. scored to get the Tigers back within a point, Walker found sophomore Connor Lane for a three of his own.
 
Graduate student Cade Looney converted a three-point play of his own before another three by Lane closed it out. The Bears led 19-9 with 8:18 left in the half.
 
UPike led by eight with 5:56 to play in the half when it used another run to double the lead. Looney got things started inside before Lane nailed another triple. Walker hit a jump shot, and after the Tigers got a free throw from junior Joshua Price, junior Keynan Cutlip scored on a layup.
 
The 9-1 run made the score 31-15 with 3:45 to play in the half. UPike led 38-26 at halftime.
 
UPike never trailed in the second half, and held a multiple-possession advantage until the final minute of play.
 
Looney and Bunch followed Walker with 13 points each. Looney had a team-best eight rebounds while Bunch grabbed four to help the Bears to a 27-22 advantage on the glass.
 
Lane, who hit four-of-eight from the arc, finished with 12 for the Bears.
 
Stillman, which was the first varsity football opponent ever for the Bears in 2001 when it was an NCAA Div. II school, got 18 points from Price. Finch, who led the Tigers with six rebounds, and senior Tyler Martin had 12 apiece.
 
 UPike will be back in action on Friday at the UPike Gym. It will host WVU Tech at 8 p.m.