PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Two free throws by Issac Stanback with 56 seconds left in overtime stood up for the University of Pikeville on Wednesday night in a 90-88 win over Columbia International (S.C.) University.
 
Stanback, a senior from Chicago, scored a team-high 25 points while pulling down seven rebounds in the win.
 
The Rams had two possessions to tie or take the lead, but committed a turnover and then, on their last possession, missed a layup and a three-point shot.
 
The last shot went out of bounds to the Bears with only 0.4 seconds left. After a timeout, the Bears threw the ball into their offensive end and the clock expired.
 
Trailing 13-11 early, the Bears used a 10-0 run to move in front. It began with five straight by sophomore Keian Worrix, who scored on two layups and turned the second into a three-point play.
 
Senior Jeremy Dillon sank a three and when sophomore Bradley Bunch nailed two free throws with 9:56 left, the lead was 21-13.
 
CIU responded with six of its own, with two players contributing. Junior Christian Howard converted layups on consecutive trips, followed by a pair of free throws by graduate student Jalen Brinson. That pulled the Rams within two at 21-19 with 7:42 left.
 
The half ended with the Bears on top 39-36.
 
UPike opened the second half with nine straight points to begin to pull away. Stanback got things started with a layup, followed by a bucket by junior Kyonte Thomas. A three-point basket by Bunch was followed by a Thomas jumper to make it 48-36 with 17:42 left in the game.
 
The Bears led 71-61 after Worrix sank a pair from the line. But the Rams went on a 9-0 run to pull within one.
 
Four different players scored, and when Howard scored inside with 5:13 left, the Bear lead was 71-70.
 
A Howard layup with 3:03 left tied the game at 74.
 
The teams played an even final three minutes and went to overtime tied at 81.
 
UPike won its 20^th game for the second consecutive season and improved to 18-4 in the conference to stay in second place in the standings.
 
Stanback was joined in double figures by the other four starters. Thomas fired in three three-point baskets to finish with 18 and three assists. Worrix had 17 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals.
 
Dillon hit four three-pointers for 15 points, while Bunch hit for 13 and grabbed eight rebounds.
 
Brinson led Columbia International with 31, hitting four three-pointers and all nine of his free throws. Howard followed with 23 thanks to shooting 10-of-12 from the field and had eight rebounds.
 
Heathcock followed with 13 points and had eight rebounds as well.
 
UPike will its final road game of the regular season on Saturday when it visits Truett-McConnell. The game, the second of a doubleheader, is slated for a 4 p.m. tip.