KINGSPORT, Tenn. – There's an old saying that it's not how you start but how you finish that counts. Nobody told that to top-seeded University of Pikeville.
 
The Bears opened the game with a 24-4 run and the second half with 15 of the first 19 en route to a 85-58 win over No. 9 Bryan (Tenn.) College on Wednesday in the 2026 AAC men's basketball tournament.
 
UPike is now 26-3 on the season and has won nine straight and 25 of its last 26.
 
The No. 6 team in the country got a big night from two-time AAC Player of the Year Bradley Bunch, who fired in 26 with nine rebounds. The senior from Big Stone Gap, Va., was 10 for 15 from the field and hit six three-pointers.
 
He had plenty of help. Keynan Cutlip, a second-team all-conference pick, hit five three-point shots on his way to 19 points. Senior LA Walker, a first-team selection, had 13 points and nine rebounds.
 
Senior guard Keian Cutlip, another first-teamer, had four points, six assists and three rebounds. Freshman of the Year Zion Blevins proved why he was also the defensive player of the year with three blocks and two steals.
 
The UPike lead ballooned to 38 at 74-36 with 7:52 remaining when sophomore Rylee Samons nailed a three-pointer. He finished with six points and four rebounds.
 
Bryan (12-17) finished the game at 38.6 percent from the field and 6 for 25 (24 percent) from the arc. It got 11 points from Izaiha Bredwood, while Jerry Taylor Jr. fired in 10 on 5 for 6 shooting.
 
Haydn Moten scored eight and grabbed nine rebounds.
 
UPike will play fourth-seeded Union Commonwealth University in the semifinals on Friday at 2 p.m. at the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort and Convention Center in Kingsport, Tenn.