The University of Pikeville win streak has now extended past half the season after a 91-56 win over Carolina (N.C.) University on Saturday afternoon at the Appalachian Wireless Arena.
 
UPike is now 16-2 on the season and has now won 15 consecutive games since its last loss, which happened on Nov. 8, which means the Bears haven't lost in more than two months.
 
The contest featured two of the four teams to compete in the Winona Lake, Ind., pod of the NAIA national tournament last March. Both teams were eliminated by homestanding Grace University.
 
UPike led 16-12 when it went on its first lengthy run, outscoring the Bruins 10-2 over a 2:23 stretch. It began and ended with senior LA Walker three-pointers, and both baskets in between were layups by freshman Zion Blevins.
 
When it ended, the Bears were in front 26-14.
 
Carolina scored a pair of buckets before UPike went on a 14-2 run to double the score. Five different Bears scored in the run. Senior Keian Worrix scored five, including two free throws with 5:32 left to make the lead 40-20.
 
At the half, UPike led 50-29.
 
Three and a half minutes into the second half the Bears led 57-36 when they went on another 14-2 run to put the game on ice.
 
UPike went 6 for 9 in the stretch and again got points from five different players, with Walker accounting for five of them. When senior Bradley Bunch nailed a 3 with 11:45 left, the Bears were ahead 71-38.
 
The lead grew to 36 (77-41) with 8:31 left when sophomore guard Rylee Samons nailed a three-point shot out of the corner.
 
Five Bears reached double figures in the win, with Blevins leading the way with a game-high 16 points. The Chapmanville, W.Va., product also had three blocked shots and two steals.
 
Worrix followed with 14 points, leaving him 22 from joining the coveted 1,000-point club at the school. He also had five rebounds and three assists. Walker had 13 points to go with four assists and three rebounds.
 
Bunch tossed in 12 to go with a game-high five assists and four rebounds, while sophomore guard Jaylan Rigdon finished with 10.
 
The nation's leading free throw shooting team, UPike did nothing to damage that on Saturday, hitting 10 for 11.
 
The Bruins had one player reach double digits, as junior Devan Edwards totaled 14.
 
UPike will be back in action on Wednesday night at the Appalachian Wireless Arena when it hosts Bryan (Tenn.) College as it gets back in league play. The game is the second of a doubleheader and begins at 7:30 p.m.