Box Score JACKSON, Tenn.-- Cumberland Men's Basketball falls in a Close Game Against Union University 82-76 


Cumberland (0-2) battled in a hard fought, physical game against Union University. The Phoenix got down by 12 late in the first half and erased the deficit quickly and brought it back to a tie after the half. Cumberland shot 47.7% from the field and shot 33% from three. 

Demarius Boyd led the Phoenix tonight shooting 8-16 (50%) from the field with 20 points and five steals. Boyd also shot 3-6 from the free throw line. Jalen Anglin scored 18 points shooting 7-11 (63.6%) from the field. He was a perfect 3-3 from the free throw line. 

Union University shot 47.3% from the field and 35.7% from three. Union dominated the foul line shooting 75.8% from the foul line hitting 25 of their 33 free throws. Union also recorded 41 rebounds with nine of them coming offensively. 

Parker Applegate led the way for the Bulldogs with 23 points, eight rebounds, and 15 points from the free throw line. Applegate shot 75% from the foul line and 44% from the field. C.J. Jackson followed him up with 21 points, and Judson Bjornstead recorded 15 points. 

The Phoenix and The Bulldogs both came out a little slow, not scoring for the first 1:30 of play. The first half was back and forth and the Bulldogs went on a couple of runs led by C.J. Jackson, Jackson knocked down a couple of jumpers to extend the lead. Demarius Boyd hit two free-throws to bring the Phoenix back within distance at 21-17. A few minutes later Boyd showed up again with a huge three to tie the game at 22 a piece. 

Union went on a couple of runs and scored on three straight possessions to lead by six. Cooper Abner knocked down a mid-range jumper and Nick Brunetti hit a big three to bring Cumberland back within three points. CU tied it three more times until Union went on a six point run to extend their lead at half time at 42-37. Demarius Boyd led the Phoenix at the half with 11 points and five steals. 

Baqi Lecky came straight out of halftime with a huge three to bring the Phoenix within two. Parker Applegate from Union followed the big three with four straight points to lead the Phoenix by six and Jeremiah Littlepage recorded a steal and fast break for the slam to extend the lead to eight. Union led by as much as 13 early in the second half after the 11 point run led by the Applegate three coming out after halftime. Triston Conger and Boyd got CU hot after the Bulldogs run and hit a couple of three's to erase the deficit to 57-53. Jalen Anglin then recorded another jumper to bring it within two and got the Phoenix back in the game. 

Anglin continued his run midway through the second half and scored six straight to tie the game at 69-69. C.J. Jackson drew a foul and knocked down both free-throws and tried to pull away again with the Bulldogs leading by five points. Anglin got hot again and went on another six point run to take the lead by one. With five minutes left, the game stayed back and forth and trading the deep ball on both ends of the court. The Phoenix continued to play within tie. Applegate stayed hot the whole game and continued to call his own number and controlled the Bulldogs offense recording his 22nd point to take the lead by one with four minutes left to play. 

Kaleim Taylor for the Bulldogs hit a layup with 1:58 left in the game to extend the Bulldog's lead by three at 76-73. The Phoenix recorded two sets of free throws with a first shot miss and rebound just to be fouled again for another set of free throws. Anglin made both of his free throws to bring the game within one point at 76-75 with only 1:25 left in the game. Applegate was then fouled and hit a clutch free throw to lead by two, and then Judson Bjornstad hit a clutch jumper to give the Bulldogs some cushion with 50 seconds left of play. Union finished the game better at the free throw line and took the win in Jackson, 82-76.

The Phoenix are back on the road Friday, November 1st, against William Carey University in Montgomery, Ala. at 4:00 PM.