LEBANON, Tenn.--Triston Conger goes for 29 to help the Phoenix muscle past Welch in the second half to get home win over Welch on Tuesday night, pulling away for an 88–72 victory.
The Phoenix shot 50.0% from the floor (36-for-72) and pounded the lane for 62 points in the paint. CU finished 3-for-19 from three and 13-for-17 at the line (76.5%). Cumberland won the boards 43–35 (14 offensive), logged 13 assists, 12 steals, and turned 24 Welch giveaways into 24 points. Bench production was a major boost with 36 points.
Triston Conger led all scorers with 29 points on 13-of-18 shooting, adding eight rebounds and four assists.
Blake Fleming supplied 10 points with a pair of threes, while
Antonio Wilkerson filled the stat sheet with nine points, seven rebounds, and four steals.
Jaren Davis posted eight points and four boards and
Jake Hatch tallied seven points and four rebounds.
Riggs Abner added six points, three rebounds, and two steals.
Zaylin Rowland scored six and
Cooper Abner had seven.
The Flames shot 38.3% overall (23-for-60), 29.0% from three (9-for-31), and 73.9% at the stripe (17-for-23). Welch recorded 14 assists, nine steals, five blocks, and 12 offensive rebounds leading to nine second-chance points. The visitors finished with 28 points in the paint and 14 from the bench.
Isak Eriksson buried six threes and scored 18 points. Draven Smith totaled 21 points, five rebounds, three blocks, and three assists. Tony Gaines added 14 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, while Lebanon local Jonah Randall grabbed eight boards and scored five. Clay Carter had seven points and five assists and Caleb Oakley scored five.
Cumberland started slowly drawing a change from the lineup early to get the offense going. It was a close game until Cumberland got a spark from their bench players. The Phoenix made a run late, but Welch answered back to cut it to three with 11 seconds left. Conger ended up scoring five points in the final 11 seconds to push the lead out 43-35.
Cumberland kept its foot down, methodically extending the lead behind efficient finishes from Conger and a renewed push on the glass. The margin hit 17 with 7:40 to play, and the Phoenix never let Welch threaten late, closing it out with defense totaling 12 steals. CU outscored Welch 45–37 after halftime to secure the 88–72 final.
Cumberland will host Union Commonwealth on Saturday with tip-off following the women's game at 4:00 p.m
