Loop doesn't run the same when I search through a UITable

When I search through a UITable (not a UITableView) I don't get the same action performed as when I tap on a row without searching.

What I mean is that I have an 'IF' loop:

 if (public == NO) {
    if ([self.usersTable indexPathForSelectedRow]){
         toUser=[users objectAtIndex:[self.usersTable indexPathForSelectedRow].row];
    }

This loop is supposed to run when a user taps on a row. This loop runs fine when I don't search the table and manually navigate through.

But when I do search, I get my preconfigured alert telling me that the variable, "toUser" that was supposed to be set is empty.

I check if it's empty by doing this:

else{
        [hud hide:YES];
        UIAlertView *error = [[UIAlertView alloc]
                              initWithTitle: @"Select a User"
                              message: @"Please select a user from the list by either searching for a username or navigating through the list manually."
                              delegate: nil
                              cancelButtonTitle:@"OK"
                              otherButtonTitles:nil];
        [error show];
        return;
    }

I'm not sure why this is but I expected this logic to work when I search as well.

Here's the code I use to search the table:

    - (UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath {

    //sets cell identifier to the same one in the storyboard.
    static NSString *CellIdentifier = @"userCell";

    //UITableViewCell *cell = [tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];
    //NSLog(@"%@", cell);

    UITableViewCell * cell = [tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];
    if (!cell) {
        cell = [[UITableViewCell alloc] initWithStyle:UITableViewCellStyleSubtitle reuseIdentifier:CellIdentifier];
    }

    PFObject *tempObject = [self.searchResult objectAtIndex:indexPath.row];

    cell.text= [tempObject objectForKey:@"username"];


    return cell;

}

- (NSInteger)numberOfSectionsInTableView:(UITableView *)tableView {

    return 1;

}
- (NSInteger)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView numberOfRowsInSection:(NSInteger)section {
    NSLog(@"users:%lu",[self.searchResult count]);
    return [self.searchResult count];
}

I appreciate any help resolving this issue. And examples are very helpful as I'm a beginner at Objective-C.

Thanks so much for your help,

Arman