The University of Pikeville crowned homecoming royalty in the pregame and celebrated with a 62-10 win on Saturday afternoon over Point (Ga.) University.
 
The win improved the Bears to 2-4 on the season and 2-0 in the AAC. It also avenged the only league loss from last season, improving them to 12-2 since joining the conference to begin the 2023 season.
 
Point is now 2-5 on the season, 2-1 in the league.
 
It was another stellar performance from quarterback Xavier Malone. The graduate student from Knoxville, Tenn., was an efficient 25 for 31 for 415 yards and four touchdowns. It was his fifth 300-yard passing game of the season and the fourth time this season he's surpassed 400 yards.
 
He had plenty of help. Sophomore Amon Williams rushed for 46 yards and a touchdown and caught for 78 yards and another score. It extends his school record to 14 consecutive games with a touchdown.
 
Senior receiver Jordan Williams hauled in six passes for 97 yards and a score. Juniors Kobe Stribling (four catches for 83 yards) and Grant Scott (three for 35 yards) also hauled in touchdowns.
 
The game started with a bang for the Bears, as freshman Maurice Davis took the opening kickoff at the one and sprinted 99 yards for the touchdown. Kicker Isaac Smith kicked the first of his six extra points of the game.
 
Before the period ended, the Bears got a score from its defense as junior defensive end Ahmad Fisher picked up a fumble forced by sophomore Najmir Bellegarde and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown.
 
Thanks to scores by the offense, defense and special teams, the Bears led 21-3 after one quarter.
 
Sophomore linebacker Levi Evans had eight tackles, four for loss. Defensive end Jeff Flowers, a grad student, had seven tackles, four for loss with three of them sacks.
 
The Bears had 12 tackles for loss on the day, keeping point to only 69 yards rushing on 41 carries on the day.
 
UPike finished with 493 yards of passing, as three quarterbacks combined to go 33 for 42 in the air.
 
The Bears will be on the road next Saturday when they travel to Bluefield (Va.) University. Start time for that game is 6 p.m.