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Johnson Punches Ticket to First-Ever Title Game

Men's Basketball semifinal recap
February 28, 2025

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - No. 4 Johnson advanced to its first-ever conference championship game with a 78-73 win over top-seeded Pikeville on Friday in the 2025 WinWon Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Men's Basketball Tournament.

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

Johnson will face No. 2 Milligan in the title game after the Buffaloes cruised past Montreat 80-60.

Play was tight throughout between Johnson and Pikeville. A pair of LA Walker free throws pulled Pikeville within 60-59 with 6:10 to play. Johnson went on a 13-4 surge to open up a 73-63 advantage with 2:31 remaining. Pikeville got the margin back down to five but not any closer as Johnson claimed the win.

Isaiah Poore connected on 12-of-14 shots from the floor in posting a game-high 29 points.

In the other semifinal game, Milligan got off to a hot start and steadily added to its lead en route to the 20-point victory. McCaskill Rivers paced Milligan with 22 points.

The championship game is set for Saturday at 3 p.m.

The game 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.

Tournament Schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 26
 Game 1 - No. 9 Truett McConnell (13-14) def. No. 8 Reinhardt (12-16), 78-77 (box)
Game 2 - No. 7 Tennessee Wesleyan (13-13) def. No. 10 Union Commonwealth (12-15), 77-69 (box)

Thursday, Feb. 27
 Game 3 - No. 1 Pikeville (24-5) def. No. 9 Truett McConnell (13-15), 72-58 (box)
Game 4 - No. 4 Johnson (19-9) def. No. 5 Bryan (15-11), 86-70 (box)
Game 5 - No. 2 Milligan (20-9) def. No. 7 Tennessee Wesleyan (13-14), 69-60 (box)
Game 6 - No. 6 Montreat (19-10) def. No. 3 Columbia International (19-7), 82-79 (box)

Friday, Feb. 28
 Game 7 - No. 4 Johnson (20-9) def. No. 1 Pikeville (24-6), 78-73 (box)
Game 8 - No. 2 Milligan (21-9) vs. No. 6 Montreat (19-11), 80-60 (box)

Saturday, March 1
Game 9 - Championship Game - No. 4 Johnson (20-9) vs. No. 2 Milligan (21-9), 3 pm