KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The University of Pikeville opened play in the 2024 NAIA basketball showcase "The Show" with an 88-75 win over the University of Sain Francis (Ind.) on Saturday afternoon.
 
Junior Bradley Bunch had a career high with 30 points in the win. He sank four three-point shots and grabbed 10 rebounds while handing out three assists.
 
He was generously helped by junior guard LA Walker, who had 25 points and six rebounds in the win.
 
St. Francis led by as many as six at 17-11 after Zane Burke sank a three-pointer with 13:24 left in the first half. UPike responded with a 16-4 run that turned the game around and when grad student Cade Looney hit a jumper in the paint, the Bears led 27-21 with 8:01 left.
 
A layup by freshman Jaylan Rigdon with 1:23 left stretched the lead to 42-30.
 
In the second half, the lead grew to as many as 17, 65-48, with 11:27 left after Walker nailed one of his three three-point baskets.
 
UPike shot it well from every angle, hitting 53.4 percent overall and 42.9 percent from the arc. It finished 14-of-19 from the line, 73.7 percent.
 
Saint Francis finished at 44.6 percent overall and was only 3-for-17 (17.6 percent) from outside. The Cougars finished 22-for-31 for 71 percent from the line.
 
Luke Almodovar led USF with 22 points and seven rebounds. Joe Reidy came off the bench for 14, while Burke finished with 11.
 
UPike, winners of nine of its first 10 games this season, will wrap up play at "The Show" with an 11 a.m. game on Sunday against IU-Kokomo.