GRAYSON, Ky. – Freshman guard Jaylan Rigdon needed only 22 minutes off the bench to pour in a career-high 23 points to lead the University of Pikeville to a 97-69 win over Kentucky Christian University on Wednesday night.
 
The win assured the Bears of at least a share of the regular-season AAC championship, as they improved to 22-5 on the season and 15-4 in the league. They'll play Columbia International (S.C.) University on Saturday in a game that could decide the outright title and the No. 1 seed in next week's conference tournament.
 
The win gave the Bears a sweep of the Knights in the regular season, having knocked them off 82-68 on Dec. 4 in Pikeville.
 
Rigdon was money from the time he approached the scorer's table. He finished 9 of 11 overall and hit all four of his three-point shots. He added three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
 
He wasn't alone, as three teammates joined him in double digits and the team shot 58.3 percent overall and was 16 for 31 (51.6 percent) from the arc in the win.
 
Junior LA Walker tossed in 20 on 8 of 10 shooting, matching Rigdon with four three-pointers. Junior Keynan Cutlip had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while junior Bradley Bunch tossed in 12, pulled down eight rebounds and handed out four assists.
 
KCU, which was held to 43.9 percent shooting, got 21 from Markell Hood, who also led his team with eight rebounds. D'Angelo Stoxstill followed with 11 points.
 
UPike got off to a quick start, shooting 59.4 percent overall and 58.8 percent from outside en route to a 50-30 lead by halftime. It never looked back.
 
The Bears will host the Rams on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the UPike Gym. A Senior Day ceremony will be held before the game.
 
Kentucky Christian is now 4-23, 4-15 in the AAC.