MILLIGAN, Tenn. – The dream of a perfect league season came to an end on Wednesday night for the University of Pikeville, which fell to Milligan University 103-96.
 
The upset came only two hours after the UPike women handed their Milligan counterparts their first loss in league play.
 
No. 12 UPike is 17-3 on the season, 11-1 in the league. The loss ended a 16-game winning streak that dates back to Saturday, Nov. 8.
 
Milligan is 5-15 on the season, 3-9 in conference play.
 
The loss came on a night that senior Bradley Bunch matched his career high with 36 points while pulling down five rebounds and recording four steals.
 
The Big Stone Gap, Va., product was the model of efficiency, scoring 36 on 14 for 17 shooting from the field, including 6 of 8 three-point shots.
 
Bunch was offset by Milligan's Elijah Bredwood, who had 42 points thanks to making eight three-point shots of his own. He added six assists and four rebounds.
 
UPike led for only 2:50 of the game, but a 19-0 run in the second half put it back on top. Bunch and classmate LA Walker had five each in the run, a stretch that saw five Bears score.
 
When Bunch sank two free throws with 9:13 left, the Bears had rallied for a 74-73 lead.
 
The teams were tied at 78 and 80, but Bredwood hit a three with 5:52 left to put the Buffs on top 83-80 and they never trailed again.
 
Freshman Zion Blevins had 21 points and six rebounds, while Walker finished with 14 and a team-high eight rebounds. Sophomore Jaylan Rigdon followed with 10 points and six assists.
 
Bredwood was joined in double figures by Liviu Anton and Te'Jon McDaniel-McCormick, who had 21 points each. McDaniel-McCormick had nine rebounds while Anton pulled down seven.
 
UPike is scheduled to remain on the road with a trip to Columbia International (S.C.) on Saturday afternoon. The game is set for a 4 p.m. tipoff.
 
--UPIKE--