MCKENZIE, Tenn.—Cumberland men’s basketball struggled to find their rhythm in this game offensively, never getting a lead falling on the road to Bethel, 81-68. 

Cumberland (13-14, 9-12 MSC) needed to get this win to hold the tiebreaker over Bethel to host the Mid-South Conference Opening Round, but Bethel on Senior Night had too many runs for Cumberland to hold pace with the Wildcats. The Phoenix will now need a win on Saturday and Bethel loss and the tiebreaker to go their way to host on Tuesday. 

Jaylen Negron had a big night going for a team-high 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Isaac Stephens posted 16 points and five rebounds. Stephens is now three rebounds away from becoming the new All-Time Rebounding Leader in school history. He also made his first career three pointer. Nassir Coleman notched a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. 

Bethel (13-13, 9-12 MSC) knocked down 53.8% of their shots and dominated the glass, out-rebounding Cumberland 34-to-21. The Wildcats also went 22-of-28 from the free throw line. 

Question Gadson led Bethel in scoring with 21 points. AJ Burnett scored 18 off the bench and Latrell Carter added 16 points. 

Bethel scored on the opening possession, but that would be the only points made in the first four minutes of action. The Wildcats would knock down the next basket and go up four before Stephens made a layup for Cumberland’s first points at the five minute mark. Bethel would then go on a 8-2 run to jump up 12-4.  The Wildcats were able to push that out to a 11 point lead at the first media leading 19-8 after an and one from Burnett. 

The Phoenix then rallied for a 10-0 run to get right back in it sparked by big defensive stops to get right back in it, but Bethel never relinquished the lead going into half up by seven, 34-27. 

Out of the break, the Phoenix again threw a big punch going on a 9-2 run to tie the game at 36-36. The Wildcats had an answer for it going right back at Cumberland with a 9-0 run to lead 45-36 with 14:39 to play. From that point, Bethel was able to push it out to a double figure lead and never led by less than 10 the rest of the game as the Phoenix tried to play catch up. Bethel went on to get a 81-68 win. 

Saturday the Phoenix play their final regular-season game of the year taking on No. 22 Freed-Hardeman for Senior Day. Cumberland will honor a slew of seniors prior to tip off at 3:00 p.m.