KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Pikeville scored the first nine points of the game en route to an 18-2 lead in an 84-75 win at Johnson University on Wednesday night.
 
UPike (4-2 overall, 3-0 in the AAC) hit 8 of 12 in the stretch and got nine points from freshman forward Zion Blevins in the run that lasted the first seven minutes of the game.
 
Johnson (0-4, 0-1), meanwhile, made only one of its eight shots in the sluggish start.
 
Senior guard Keian Worrix continued his terrific start to the season with a game-high 17 points. He hit 2 for 3 on three-pointers.
 
Sophomore guard Rylee Samons had his biggest game as a Bear, nailing 4 of 5 three-point shots en route to 16 points. Senior guard LA Walker had 16 as well while also grabbing five rebounds and a game-best five assists. He also had two steals.
 
Blevins, who helped the Bears to the hot start, ended the game with 11 points and five rebounds.
 
The Bears won the game thanks in part to shooting a perfect 15 of 15 from the free throw line. They were also 9 for 19 (47.4 percent) from beyond the three-point stripe.
 
Senior guard Bradley Bunch, the sitting AAC player of the year, scored only six points but led all players with 11 rebounds.
 
Senior forward Mason Lockhart led all scorers with 23 points and paced the Royals with eight rebounds. Grad student Livingston Cross had 12 points and seven rebounds, while junior Davon Cottle finished with 11 and led his club with four assists.
 
UPike will put its three-game league win streak on the table Saturday afternoon at Montreat (N.C.) College. Game time is 4 p.m.