PIKEVILLE, Ky. – It was Senior Day, but four UPike juniors combined for 66 points to lead the Bears to a 75-71 win over Columbia International (S.C.) University Saturday afternoon.
 
The win gave the Bears the outright regular-season championship in the AAC and the first of two automatic bids into the NAIA national tournament next month.
 
UPike will enter next week's 2025 WinWon Appalachian Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, to be played at the MeadowView Marriott Convention Center & Conference Resort in Kingsport, Tenn.
 
The Bears finished the regular season with a record of 23-5 overall and 16-4 in the AAC, two games ahead of CIU, Milligan and Johnson, all of which had league records of 14-6.
 
CIU finished the regular season with an overall record of 19-6.
 
The Bears will learn their opponent next Wednesday, getting the winner of the game between the teams seeded 8^th and 9^th.
 
On Saturday, Bradley Bunch led the Bears with 21 points and 20 rebounds after not scoring the first 10 minutes of the contest. He was followed by LA Walker, who had 19 points, six rebounds and three assists.
 
Keian Worrix had all 16 of his points in the first half, helping the Bears to a 42-38 halftime lead. Keynan Cutlip followed with 10 points and three assists.  
 
Two free throws by Walker gave the Bears an 18-9 lead with 13:12 left in the first half. It wouldn't reach double figures until the 15:54 mark of the second half when Bunch nailed a three-point basket to make the lead 53-42.
 
A layup by freshman Jaylan Rigdon put the Bears in front 59-42 with 12:53 left. The 17-point advantage would be the largest of the game.
 
The Rams chipped away, and with 55 seconds left, a basket inside by senior Brandon Hunt pulled them within two, 71-69.
 
They would get no closer and the Bears held on for the win.
 
The Rams were led by senior Christian Howard, who had 21 points. Junior JJ Vaughan came off the bench for 12 on four three-point shots, while senior Christian Howard fired in 11.
 
Bunch's 20 rebounds led the Bears to a 46-34 edge on the glass. They also won on a night they committed only four turnovers in the game.