KINGSPORT, Tenn. — The Bryan College Lions saw their 2025-26 season come to an end Thursday morning, falling to No. 10-ranked Pikeville (KY) 85-58 in the quarterfinals of the AAC Tournament at the MeadowView Marriott Convention Center in Kingsport.

The loss concludes a season in which Bryan finished 12-17 overall and 8-11 in conference play, unable to slow down a Bears squad that has been one of the hottest teams in the NAIA all season.

Pikeville, entering the game at 26-3 and ranked 10th in the NAIA, wasted little time asserting its dominance. The Bears jumped out to a 42-24 halftime lead and never looked back, outscoring the Lions 43-34 in the second half to cruise to a 27-point victory.

AAC Player of the Year, Bradley Bunch was the story of the morning for Pikeville, pouring in a game-high 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. He was virtually unstoppable, draining triples in bunches and drawing constant attention from the Bryan defense. Keynan Cutlip added 19 points and knocked down 5-of-9 three-pointers, giving Pikeville a devastating one-two punch from the perimeter that Bryan had no answer for.

The Bears shot 46.4 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from three-point range, connecting on 13 of 32 attempts from deep. Their fast-break game was equally lethal, outscoring Bryan 11-2 in transition points.

Bryan was led by Izaiha Bredwood, who finished with 11 points, and Jerry Taylor Jr., who added 10 points and went 5-of-6 from the field. Haydn Moten was a force on the glass, pulling down 9 rebounds to go along with 8 points, while Kole Torres chipped in 8 points and made 2-of-9 three-point attempts.

The Lions struggled from the perimeter all night, connecting on just 6-of-25 three-point attempts (24.0%) and shooting 38.6 percent from the field overall. Bryan's first half was particularly rough on offense, shooting just 32.3 percent from the floor and 16.7 percent from three.

Despite the deficit, Bryan showed some fight in the second half, trimming the lead at moments and refusing to quit. The Lions outscored Pikeville 34-43 in the second half, a sign of character even if the outcome was already decided.

The Lions end their season at 12-17, closing out what was a challenging year in a competitive AAC. Despite the losing record, Bryan showed flashes of promise, particularly in their ability to generate second-chance opportunities — they outscored Pikeville 18-12 in second-chance points in Thursday's game — and their 26 points in the paint also edged the Bears' 22.

For Bryan's seniors, Thursday's game was the final chapter of their collegiate careers. For the program, the focus now shifts to the offseason and building toward next year.