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Cumberland University

Triston Conger
88
Cumberland (TN) CUMBERLA 8-5
99
Winner Indiana East INDIANA 7-3
Cumberland (TN) CUMBERLA
8-5
88
Final
99
Indiana East INDIANA
7-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Cumberland (TN) CUMBERLA 44 44 88
Indiana East INDIANA 52 47 99

Next Game:

at Middle Tennessee State University

12/21/2025 | 1:00 PM

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Full Schedule
Dec. 21 (Sun) / 1:00 PM
at Middle Tennessee State University
History

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Phoenix Rally to Second-Half Lead, but Red Wolves Close Strong in 99-88 Decision

RICHMOND, Ind.--Triston Conger poured in 29 points and Cumberland erased a 12-point deficit to take a late lead in the second half, but Indiana East answered with a closing surge to pull away for a 99-88 win over the Phoenix on Friday afternoon at Lingle Court.

The Phoenix finished with 88 points on 30-of-67 shooting (44.8 percent) and hit 7-of-18 from three (38.9 percent) while going 21-of-26 at the line (80.8 percent). Cumberland scored 44 points in the paint and generated 15 second-chance points, but Indiana East shot 58.8 percent (40-of-68) and totaled 22 points off turnovers. Cumberland held a 36-38 rebounding margin and scored 17 points off turnovers while committing 16 turnovers on the day.

Conger's 29 came on 10-of-22 shooting and an 8-of-9 mark at the stripe, adding four rebounds, four steals and two assists while logging all 40 minutes. Nick Brunetti finished with 15 points and three rebounds, while Michael Nwoye recorded a 15-point, 13-rebound double-double to go along with four assists and two blocks. Jake Hatch knocked down three triples on his way to nine points, and Zaylin Rowland added 11 points off the bench. Jaren Davis chipped in seven points and a team-high four assists.

The Red Wolves totaled 99 points behind a 40-of-68 performance from the field (58.8 percent) and went 8-of-25 from three (32.0 percent). Indiana East went 11-of-18 at the line (61.1 percent), scored 56 points in the paint and 25 points off the bench, while finishing with a 38-36 edge on the glass. The Red Wolves handed out 20 assists and forced 16 Cumberland turnovers, turning those into 22 points.

Mikey Johnson led all scorers with 31 points on an ultra-efficient 12-of-15 shooting while adding eight assists and five rebounds. Cole Henry matched him basket-for-basket with 27 points on 12-of-15 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and three blocks. Tobey Billups posted 13 points and seven assists, while Dewayne Robinson scored 10 points off the bench and knocked down two threes. Jeremiah Landers added 10 points in 10 minutes, and Kobe Watson grabbed four rebounds in 17 minutes.

Cumberland traded punches early and briefly led 8-6 after Nwoye sparked the opening stretch with a pair of finishes and a free throw, while Hatch buried two early threes to keep the Phoenix in rhythm. Indiana East responded with quick paint touches and transition chances, as Henry and Johnson combined for multiple strong finishes at the rim to swing momentum back to the Red Wolves. Even as Cumberland kept finding answers, including a Brunetti three and several fast-break looks created by steals, Indiana East's efficiency kept the margin leaning their way.

The Red Wolves stretched the lead with a 9-0 spurt highlighted by a pair of Johnson baskets and a Ajibade three, pushing the advantage to nine at 35-26. Cumberland steadied itself late in the half behind Conger's downhill attacks and Nwoye's work on the glass, trimming the deficit to five after Rowland and Brunetti converted in the lane. Indiana East closed the final two minutes with another burst, and while Conger finished through contact at the horn, the Phoenix went to the break trailing 52-44.

Cumberland opened the second half with immediate pressure, cutting the margin to four on a pair of baskets in the first minute and continuing to chip away at the line as Conger got to the stripe. The Phoenix kept inching closer behind timely threes from Davis and Rowland and consistent finishes inside, shrinking the deficit to two at 7:58 after a Conger jumper capped a mini-run. With the game tightening, Cumberland's energy on both ends finally turned into the lead when Brunetti finished inside at the 5:13 mark, giving the Phoenix an 84-83 advantage and completing the comeback.

Indiana East answered right back. Johnson hit a pull-up to reclaim the lead, and Henry followed with a powerful finish at the rim to push it to three. After Robinson drilled a dagger three at 3:11 to make it 90-84, the Red Wolves kept control with timely shots and free throws down the stretch, turning the final minutes into a closing run that Cumberland couldn't match. Conger and Nwoye hit late free throws to keep the Phoenix within reach, but Indiana East capped by a Billups three and a Henry dunk sealed the 99-88 final.

The Phoenix will be in Murfreesboro on Sunday for an exhibition game at Middle Tennessee State. Tip-off is slated for 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon. 
 
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Players Mentioned

Nick Brunetti

#77 Nick Brunetti

G
6' 4"
Sophomore
Triston Conger

#1 Triston Conger

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Jaren Davis

#2 Jaren Davis

G
6' 3"
Freshman
Jake Hatch

#4 Jake Hatch

F
6' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
Michael Nwoye

#7 Michael Nwoye

F
6' 7"
Freshman
Zaylin Rowland

#42 Zaylin Rowland

G
6' 2"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Nick Brunetti

#77 Nick Brunetti

6' 4"
Sophomore
G
Triston Conger

#1 Triston Conger

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
G
Jaren Davis

#2 Jaren Davis

6' 3"
Freshman
G
Jake Hatch

#4 Jake Hatch

6' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
F
Michael Nwoye

#7 Michael Nwoye

6' 7"
Freshman
F
Zaylin Rowland

#42 Zaylin Rowland

6' 2"
Freshman
G