Johnson Scores Lone Upset of Men's Basketball Quarterfinal Round

Johnson Scores Lone Upset of Men's Basketball Quarterfinal Round
February 29, 2024

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Johnson pulled off the only upset of the quarterfinal round of the 2024 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Men's Basketball Tournament, while top-seeded Union needed overtime to dispatch No. 8 seed Tennessee Wesleyan on Thursday.

All of the games were close with no team winning by more than seven points.

Fifth-seeded Johnson knocked off No. 4 seed Milligan 73-70, while Union pulled out a 76-75, overtime win. No. 2 seed Pikeville collected an 80-73 decision over No. 10 seed Truett McConnell, and No. 3 seed Columbia International outlasted sixth-seeded Bryan 72-68.

Isaiah Poore came up big for Johnson, netting 26 points. Toris Woods added 14 points.

Anton Mozga hit 1-of-2 free throws with 1.4 seconds left in overtime to provide the difference in Union's 76-75 win. Markelle Turner and Markelo Sullivan paced the Bulldogs with 18 points each.

Five Pikeville players scored in double figures with Keian Worrix leading the way with 20 points and five assists. EJ Smith posted 31 points in the loss for Truett McConnell.

Dianthony Heathcock had 21 points and eight rebounds in Columbia International's win. Josh Baugher came up huge for Bryan, recording 21 points and 17 rebounds.

Union and Johnson will meet in the semifinal round on Friday at 2 p.m. with Pikeville and Columbia International squaring off at 4 p.m.

Tournament Schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 28
 Game 1 - No. 8 Tennessee Wesleyan (12-14) def. No. 9 Montreat (14-15), 87-77 (box)
Game 2 - No. 10 Truett McConnell (12-17) def. No. 7 Reinhardt (12-16), 95-72 (box)

Thursday, Feb. 29
 Game 3 - No. 5 Johnson (16-12) def. No. 4 Milligan (14-13), 73-70 (box)
Game 4 - No. 1 Union (23-6) def. No. 8 Tennessee Wesleyan (12-15), 76-75 (OT) (box)
Game 5 - No. 2 Pikeville (23-6) def. No. 10 Truett McConnell (12-18), 80-73 (box)
Game 6 - No. 3 Columbia International (19-10) vs. No. 6 Bryan (15-13), 72-68 (box)

Friday, March 1
 Game 7 - No. 1 Union (23-6) vs. No. 5 Johnson (16-12), 2 p.m.
Game 8 - No. 2 Pikeville (23-6) vs. No. 3 Columbia International (19-10) vs. No. 6 Bryan (15-13), 5:15 p.m., 4 p.m.

Saturday, March 2
Game 9 - Championship Game - Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 1 p.m.