BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – University of Pikeville men's bowling were runners up in the 2025-26 Mid-South Conference Men's Bowling Championships.
The Mid-South Conference implemented a new conference tournament format. This year's format, known as the Mega Match, is centered around winning sets. Each set is worth one point and the first team to reach two points wins.
The first set consists of total number of pins from five bowlers in a traditional game. Set two is decided by total pinfall of five Baker team games. The third set, if necessary, is a best-of-seven Baker match.
UPike entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed and took on No. 6 Lindsey Wilson in round one. UPike would take set one 949-938, but the Blue Raiders would take set two 913-823 to force a third set. The Bears would win the match after sweeping Lindsey Wilson in the third set.
It was a battle of the Bears in round two after UPike drew No. 7 Shawnee State. SSU edged out UPike by 12 pins in set one, but UPike bounced back in set two with a convincing, 912-809 win. SSU would take the match after winning set three in six games.
Despite the loss to SSU, the Bears were still in in but were in the consolation bracket, which was a best-of-seven Baker match. The Bears took on No. 10 Brescia and defeated the Bearcats 4-1, then eliminated No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan 4-1 to advance to the semifinals.
The semifinals match pitted UPike against Shawnee State, who were fresh off a loss to top-seeded Cumberland. UPike got their revenge on SSU by sweeping them to advance to the final round of the tournament.
In the final round, the Bears battled No. 1 Cumberland. The Bears took set one 1,175-1,093 then took set two 1,157-1,012. Freshman Quinn Tillman highlighted the match by bowling a perfect game.
Despite the win, the Bears still had to win a best-of-seven series against Cumberland to take home the conference championship. UPike and Cumberland split the first four games, then CU took game five 246-221.
Trailing 3-2, the Bears bounced back and staved off elimination by narrowly beating the Phoenix 214-213 to force game seven. The Phoenix would win the series and the conference championship after a 230-165 victory over the Bears in game seven.
Coach Andrew Dekowski's team will take to the lanes again next Saturday in Indianapolis, Ind., for the Hoosier Classic.