KINGSPORT, Tenn.--The Phoenix opened up the Show at the Marriott Meadowview Resort against No. 3 Arizona Christian. Cumberland hung with the Firestorm in the first half, but ACU heated up in the second half to come away with a 103-60 win.

Cumberland (1-5) played well in the first half shooting 48.4%, but fell ice cold in the second half only shooting 17.2% in the half to allow the Firestorm to pull away.

Three Phoenix finished in double digits led by Demarius Boyd with 16 points. Jaylen Negron had 12 points and Doyel Cockrill III finished with 10 points off the bench. 

Arizona Christian shot 55.9% from the field and drilled 12 three-pointers. The Firestorm outrebounded Cumberland 46-33 and had 47 bench points. Six players for Arizona Christian finished with double figures. 

In the early going, both teams traded blows as they got into the flow of the game. After five minutes, ACU led by one 9-8 before an 8-2 run put the No. 3 team up 17-10. 

The Firestorm pushed that lead out a nine point lead at 23-14 before the Phoenix charged back. A three from Cockrill and a two from Boyd cut it to a two possession game. 

Down 27-23 with 8:13 to go in the half Cumberland rattled off seven straight points to grab their first lead up 28-27, but Arizona Christian responded with a 9-0 run to lead 39-30. 

Cumberland cut it to four, but again ACU closed the half on an 8-1 run to balloon the lead to double digits up 50-39 at the half. 

To start the second half, Cumberland hung around a 15-point deficit for the first few minutes before the Firestorm heated up and CU fell cold to pull away. 

Down by 14, Arizona Christian was able to extend it to a huge lead on a 15-2 run to get up by 27, 74-47, with 12 minutes left. 

The margin stuck around that number for the next five minutes, but again ACU went on a 9-0 run to get up by 35 and the Firestorm never looked back going on to win, 103-60.

Cumberland doesn't have long to bounce back as they take on Columbia International in less than 24 hours. The Phoenix will lock horns with the Rams at 3:15 p.m. tomorrow. Jon Boyce will be there for the call on the Cumberland Sports Network.