KINGSPORT, Tenn. – No. 3 Columbia International (S.C.) University made all three of its field goals and its first six free throws in overtime to knock off the second-seeded University of Pikeville 91-86 in Friday afternoon's AAC semifinals at the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort and Convention Center.
 
In the extra frame, the Rams were 11-of-13 from the free throw line.
 
As a result, the Bears slipped to 23-7 on the season. Should Union, the regular-season champion, win Saturday's championship game, UPike would receive the second automatic bid into the national tournament. If CIU wins, the Bears' fate is in the hands of the selection committee.
 
CIU took an 18-17 lead when senior Bryce Causey scored inside with 9:19 to play in what had been a tightly contested first 10 minutes. The Bears then had their first prolonged run of success.
 
It began with a layup by senior Issac Stanback before junior Kyonte Thomas sank a three. Stanback again scored inside. After Causey scored on another layup before sophomore Keynan Cutlip had a three-point play.
 
The Bears had completed a 10-2 run in 1:36 to take a 27-20 lead with 6:47 to play.
 
The lead got to seven once more before halftime, as Thomas scored on a runout with 58 seconds left to push it to 42-35. At the break, the Bears were on top 44-38.
 
The Rams, however, stormed out of the gates and scored eight of the first 10 second-half points. Sophomore Keian Worrix opened the half with a jumper before senior Dianthony Heathcock nailed a three. Two inside baskets, first by graduate student Jalen Brenson and then Causey, was followed by a free throw by Christian Howard to tie the game at 46 with 15:42 left.
 
Stanback responded with consecutive inside baskets to get the lead back to four.
 
The lead bounced between four and one for the next 6:35 before the Bears had another quick outburst. It started with two Stanback free throws before Worrix nailed one, followed by a deep three with 6:04 left to push the lead to 65-58.
 
But CIU refused to quit, and on consecutive trips, got a layup from Howard and a three-point play from Darrian Oates to pull back within one with 5:04 left.
 
With 2:25 left, Brinson scored inside to tie the game at 69.
 
The teams tied it again at 71 and headed to overtime deadlocked at 73.
 
The Bears put four players in double figures, led by Stanback's 22 points and 12 rebounds. It's the 15^th time in 30 outings he's recorded a double-double this season.
 
Worrix had 19, followed by 18 points and nine rebounds from Thomas. Bunch had 10 points and six rebounds.
 
Oates led the Rams with 27 points thanks to making 13-of-13 from the free-throw line. He nearly matched his semifinal performance from a season ago, when he led the Rams into the finals by hitting all 15 of his tosses.
 
Brinson and Heathcock had 15 markers apiece. Brinson led CIU with four assists, Heathcock with nine rebounds. Causey had 13 points.