CLEVELAND, Ga. – Sophomore forward Rylee Samons scored a career-high 28 points to pace four players in double figures as the University of Pikeville beat Truett McConnell University 103-61 on Saturday.
 
The win raised UPike to 14-2 on the season and 8-0 in AAC play. The win streak now stands at 13.
 
During the winning stretch, the Bears have outscored their opponents 1,121-898, with the average win coming by 17.15 points per game.
 
It was UPike's first 100-point game in more than a year, having beaten Virginia-Lynchburg 130-70 on Dec. 16, 2024.
 
Truett McConnell is now 6-9 overall and 3-4 in league play.
 
Samons previous high this season was 16, which he had done two times. His collegiate high was 20, which he scored as a freshman at Tennessee Tech University.
 
On Saturday, he busted through by hitting 7 for 10 from the outside and 9 of 14 overall. He was also perfect on three free throws and hauled in four rebounds.
 
Samons' hot hand helped the Bears to a season-best 60 percent shooting (36 for 60) from the field and 57.1 percent (16 of 28) on three-point shots.
 
The Bears went to the half with a 56-32 lead thanks to shooting 61.3 percent overall, and cooled off only slightly while hitting 58.6 percent in the second 20 minutes to outscore Truett 47-29.
 
The host, meanwhile, shot only 36.5 percent for the game and was 4 for 16 on three-point tries.
 
Samons was far from the only hot hand on Saturday. Senior guard LA Walker had 15 points, hitting 6 for 9 from the field, while also having three rebounds and three assists.
 
Senior guard Bradley Bunch had a double-double by halftime and finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. Senior guard Keynan Cutlip was 5 of 7 from the field for 12 points.
 
Meanwhile, senior guard Keian Worrix handed out six assists while scored eight and pulling down three rebounds.
 
Truett McConnell had two players in double figures for the game. Isaac Brito-Vasquez had 16 points, while Shawn Walker followed with 14 points and added six rebounds.
 
UPike's play was solid across the board. In addition to its hot shooting, it outrebounded TMU 38-29 and handed out 19 assists while committing only seven turnovers.
 
The Bears will return to the Appalachian Wireless Arena on Wednesday night when they host Johnson (Tenn.) University at 7:30 p.m. UPike owns an 84-75 win over the Royals already this season in a game played Nov. 19 in Knoxville.