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Cumberland University

Demarius Boyd
88
Winner Blue Mountain Christian (MS) BMC 8-9
78
Cumberland (TN) CU 7-9
Winner
Blue Mountain Christian (MS) BMC
8-9
88
Final
78
Cumberland (TN) CU
7-9
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Blue Mountain Christian (MS) BMC 33 55 88
Cumberland (TN) CU 26 52 78

Next Game:

at Bethel University (Tenn.)

1/9/2025 | 7:30 pm

WANT FM 98.9/WCOR AM 1490

Next Game

Full Schedule
Jan. 09 (Thu) / 7:30 pm
at Bethel University (Tenn.)
History

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Phoenix Fall Short Against Blue Mountain Christian, 88-78

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland men's basketball battled hard but ultimately fell short against Blue Mountain Christian, 88-78, in an intense matchup at the Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena. A dominating rebounding effort by the Toppers and timely scoring runs proved to be the difference. Cumberland saw four players score in double figures, led by Demarius Boyd's 20 points, but Blue Mountain's rebounding advantage and clutch free-throw shooting helped secure the victory.

Cumberland (7-8) shot 46.2% from the field, connecting on 30-of-65 attempts, including 6-of-21 from beyond the arc for 28.6%. At the free-throw line, the Phoenix went 12-of-20 for 60%.Cumberland was dominated on the glass getting out-rebounded 54-to-36. Cumberland also shared the ball well, recording 15 assists as a team, while limiting turnovers to just 11. Defensively, they tallied six steals and four blocks.

Cumberland was led by Demarius Boyd, who poured in 20 points on 7-of-18 shooting, including three three-pointers, his seventh 20-point game of the season. Triston Conger contributed across the board with 15 points, a team-high nine assists, and seven rebounds while playing the full 40 minutes. Keyshawn Robinson also added 15 points, shooting an efficient 7-of-12 from the field, while Jalen Anglin chipped in 11 points. Khi Wallace anchored the glass with seven rebounds, tying Conger for the team lead. Off the bench, Riggs Abner made an impact with eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, including two three-pointers, in just 12 minutes. 

Blue Mountain Christian (7-9) was led by Jason Hunt and Vincent Douglas, who each had 20 points on the night. Hunt did his damage primarily from the free-throw line, where he went 12-of-15. Douglas matched Hunt's scoring output with 20 points of his own while adding 10 rebounds for a double-double. Rameon Witt Jr. was efficient, contributing 18 points on 9-of-15 shooting and grabbing nine boards. Bryan Maxey added 14 points and seven assists, while Israel Momodu dominated the glass with a game-high 15 rebounds. 

As a team, Blue Mountain shot 39.7% from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 2-of-21 attempts (9.5%). They capitalized at the free-throw line, converting 28-of-36 attempts (77.8%), and controlled the boards with a commanding 54-36 rebounding advantage, including 17 offensive rebounds.

Anglin got going early for the Phoenix scoring the first four points for CU, but Witt Jr., was equally as hot out the gate scoring eight of the first 10 points for the Toppers in the first five minutes to 10-6 BMC lead. 

Conger drilled a three to spark a 11-2 run for Cumberland to retake an early lead. On the run, Robinson scored on the lane, Conger scored a layup, Anglin and Wallace each scored in the paint for a 17-11 lead. The Toppers answered with a 6-0 run to get back ahead 18-17 at the halfway mark in the first scoring four from the line. 

Offense slowed over the next three minutes as the Phoenix picked up a basket from Boyd, but Blue Mountain snapped out of scoring drought with a 7-0 run to bring us to the second media trailing 25-19 with six minutes left in the half. 

The run continued after the timeout as Douglas scored in the lane to give Blue Mountain their largest lead of the half up 27-19. Nick Brunetti got the Phoenix on the board after a four minute drought knocking down two free throws. The Toppers answered back with the next three points before Riggs Abner drained a triple. Cumberland would pick up two more points in the lane from Brunetti and go into the half trailing 33-26. 

Cumberland came out quickly in the second half to get right back in the game. Robinson scored in the paint before a BMC answer. Robinson and Conger combined to go on a 8-0 run after that for the Phoenix to regain the lead for Cumberland at 36-35 and force the Toppers into a timeout. 

Robinson continued the run after the timeout with a bucket in the paint. The Toppers leveled the score with three free throws from Maxey, but Anglin got the momentum back for Cumberland with an and-one conversion to lead 41-38 with 16 minutes left. 

Blue Mountain went on a 8-2 spurt to regain the lead, but just before the first media timeout in the second half, Cumberland went on 9-0 to recapture it at the stoppage, 52-46. On the run, Conger made a shot, Robinson hit two layups, Cooper Abner made one from the line, and Anglin got a floater to go. 

The Toppers went back on a run of their own, scoring the next eight points to Blue Mountain back ahead 54-52. Conger scored in the line to tie the game before another 4-0 spurt for the Toppers to lead 58-54 with 8:37 left. 

Blue Mountain held on to a four point lead until 62-58. The Phoenix would go on a 4-0 spurt to tie the game at 62-62 on a pair of free throws from Brunetti and a lay up from Riggs Abner. Douglas converted an and one for BMC and Abner drained a three to tie the game back at 65-65. The Toppers again scored the next three and Boyd answered with a triple. 

Tied at 68-68, Blue Mountain would go on a 10-1 run converting four from the line. Maxey hit a jumper and Witt, Jr. made two baskets in the run to put BMC up 78-69 with two minutes to play. 

Boyd took over the final two minutes converting an and one and hitting a bucket to make it a four point game. With under a minute to go, Blue Mountain had a big offensive rebound and putback and then made their free throws down the stretch to come away with a win, 88-78. 

Cumberland will now turn their attention to conference play in one week. Cumberland will travel to McKenzie, Tennessee and take on Bethel at 7:30 p.m. following the women's game. 
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Players Mentioned

Demarius Boyd

#4 Demarius Boyd

G
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Triston Conger

#24 Triston Conger

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Keyshawn Robinson

#23 Keyshawn Robinson

G
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Cooper Abner

#6 Cooper Abner

F
6' 8"
Freshman
Riggs Abner

#3 Riggs Abner

G
6' 6"
Senior
Nick Brunetti

#1 Nick Brunetti

G
6' 4"
Freshman
Jalen Anglin

#8 Jalen Anglin

G
6' 5"
Junior
Khi Wallace

#7 Khi Wallace

F
6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

Demarius Boyd

#4 Demarius Boyd

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
G
Triston Conger

#24 Triston Conger

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Keyshawn Robinson

#23 Keyshawn Robinson

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Cooper Abner

#6 Cooper Abner

6' 8"
Freshman
F
Riggs Abner

#3 Riggs Abner

6' 6"
Senior
G
Nick Brunetti

#1 Nick Brunetti

6' 4"
Freshman
G
Jalen Anglin

#8 Jalen Anglin

6' 5"
Junior
G
Khi Wallace

#7 Khi Wallace

6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
F