Junior Bradley Bunch scored 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the University of Pikeville to a 78-69 win over WVU Tech on Friday night in the nightcap of the UPike Classic.
 
Bunch, a native of Big Stone Gap, Va., recorded his first double-double of the season and the fifth of his career as a Bear.
 
WVU Tech (1-1) led 13-10 before UPike went on its first extended run, a 13-2 stretch that took only 2:48 off the clock. Bunch had six of those, and when junior Tyler Best nailed a three with 7:04 left, the Bears were on top 23-15.
 
But the Golden Bears weren't finished yet, and responded with a 9-0 run to regain the lead. Sophomore guard Braden Chapman had seven in that response, including a layup with 5:09 left to put them back in front 24-23.
 
Chapman led WVU Tech with 27 points and seven rebounds.
 
From there, UPike closed the half with eight of the final 10 points. Four different Bears had field and a basket by Bunch closed it out to give them a 31-26 halftime lead.
 
As if they were trying to shut the game down early, the Bears got a three by Bunch to begin second-half scoring to go up 34-26. Tech scored the next five points to pull within three, but a Bunch three-point play doubled that lead.
 
It never got that close again.
 
Bunch had lots of help, with junior guard LA Walker going 9-of-10 from the free throw line to finish with 14 points and six rebounds, while graduate student Cade Looney dropped 11 and seven boards.
 
Junior Thomas Haley joined Chapman in double figures with 18 points and seven rebounds.
 
UPike (3-0) will be back in action on Saturday when they host Dalton State (Ga.) to wrap up the UPike Classic. The Roadrunners lost to Tennessee Wesleyan 92-78 in Friday's opener.
 
Game time is 4 p.m. at the UPike Gym.