Bryan, CIU to Meet for Men's Basketball Tournament Title

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - For the first time in 10 years, there will be a new tournament champion as No. 5 seed Bryan upset top-seeded Union in the semifinal round of the 2023 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Men's Baskeball Tournament on Friday.

The loss snapped the Bulldogs' 29 conference tournament game winning streak as they have won the last nine tournaments. Union's last tournament loss came on Feb. 21, 2013 when it fell 78-73 to Bryan.

The Lions will face No. 7 seed Columbia International, who upended third-seeded Montreat 77-67.

The tournament is being held at the MeadowView Marriott Convention Center & Conference Resort in Kingsport, Tenn.

BRYAN 67, UNION 65

Union owned a seemingly comfortable 51-40 lead following a Markelle Turner 3-pointer with 10:32 to play. A Terrin Hamilton 3 gave Union a 56-47 lead at the 5:46 mark, but Bryan began to chip away at the deficit. Bryan went on a 13-4 stretch to even the score at 60-all with 2:36 remaining. The lasst eight points from the run all came from the free-throw line. Union took a 63-62 lead with 1:07 left, but a Trey Murrow bucket and three more free throws gave Bryan a 67-63 advantage. Union got a bucket at the buzzer, but it was not enough as Bryan won 67-65.

Ian Johnson paced Bryan with 16 points.

CIU 77, MONTREAT 67

Columbia International got off to a fast start and owned the lead for the majority of the game. The Rams led 38-28 at the half and were never truly in danger of losing the lead en route to the 10-point win.

CIU shot 47.5 percent from the field as Dianthony Heathcock's 19 points led the way.

Tournament Schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 22
Game 1 - No. 9 Truett McConnell (13-16) def. No. 8 Milligan (12-16), 81-69 (box)
Game 2 - No. 7 Columbia International (15-13) def. No. 10 Bluefield (10-19), 68-51 (box)

Thursday, Feb. 23 Game 3 - No. 1 Union (27-1) def. No. 9 Truett McConnell (13-17), 75-66 (box)
Game 4 - No. 5 Bryan (15-13) def. No. 4 Tennessee Wesleyan (15-11), 79-69  (box)
Game 5 - No. 7 Columbia International (16-13) def. No. 2 Reinhardt (15-13), 82-71 (box)
Game 6 - No. 3 Montreat (18-10) vs. No. 6 Point (15-14), 69-57 (box)

Friday, Feb. 24
Game 7 - No. 5 Bryan (16-13) def. No. 1 Union (27-2), 67-65 (box)
Game 8 - No. 7 Columbia International (17-13) def. No. 3 Montreat (18-11), 77-67 (box)

Saturday, Feb. 25
Game 9 - Championship Game - No. 5 Bryan (16-13) vs. No. 7 Columbia International (17-13), 3 pm

All games will be live-streamed on the AAC Digital Network for free. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students each day. To purchase tickets, click here.