KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Seniors Bradley Bunch and Keian Worrix combined to hit 10 three-point shots and score 41 points to lead the University of Pikeville to a 73-61 win over Union Commonwealth University on Friday afternoon.
 
The win came in the semifinals of the 2026 AAC men's basketball tournament and sends UPike to the finals for the first time in its three years in the league.
 
UPike will face the winner of Friday's second semifinal game between No. 3 Johnson (Tenn.) and No. 7 Tennessee Wesleyan on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort and Convention Center.
 
The Bears are now 27-3, winners of 10 straight and 26 of their last 27 contests.
 
UPike charged out of the gates, getting three three-pointers in the first minute and a half of play. Worrix nailed one and found Bunch and senior Keynan Cutlip for the other two, and the lead was an early 9-0.
 
An 11-2 stretch that needed only 3:19 of clock time provided even more separation. Worrix had five and Bunch four, and when Worrix scored on a layup with 12:44 left, the UPike lead was 23-9.
 
That would be the biggest lead of the half, which ended with the Bears on top 42-29. Bunch and Worrix had 14 each.
 
Bunch opened the second frame with his own 5-0 run to put the Bears on top 47-29.
 
Union Commonwealth refused to die, scoring 14 of the next 19 points. The Bulldogs nailed the final seven, including a layup by sophomore Jamarion Gaines, to cut the UPike lead to single digits at 52-43 with 11:45 left.
 
UPike's lead was down to 55-47 midway through the half, and that's when sophomore Rylee Samons announced his presence. In 1:37, he hit three straight three-point bombs, the last coming with 7:07 left, to push the lead to 64-48.
 
A late 9-0 run got Union within eight at 69-61, but only 44 seconds remained on the clock. Five free throws by sophomore Jaylan Rigdon finished it off.
 
Bunch led the Bears with 21 points, going 4 of 8 from the arc. Worrix was simply fantastic, scoring 20 including six three-pointers, to go with six steals, five assists and four rebounds.
 
Walker finished with 12 points and a game-high seven rebounds, while Samons finished with 11.
 
Junior Kaleb Hedgepeth led all scorers with 22 for the Bulldogs, whose season ended at 14-16. He offset Walker with seven rebounds of his own.
 
Senior Dallas Rufus tossed in 15.