Men's Basketball 12/21/2025 3:20:00 PM

Phoenix Give Middle Tennessee State a Scare in Exhibition Loss

Box Score MURFREESBORO, Tenn.--Cumberland men's basketball went toe-to-toe with NCAA Division I Middle Tennessee for 40 minutes and carried a halftime lead, but the Blue Raiders pulled away in the second half to secure a 74-58 win in an exhibition contest Sunday afternoon at the Murphy Center.

Cumberland finished the game shooting 42.1 percent from the floor and held advantages in points in the paint (34-28) and bench scoring (21-11), while forcing 13 Middle Tennessee turnovers. The Phoenix built momentum early with crisp ball movement and defensive pressure, but Middle Tennessee capitalized at the free-throw line in the second half, finishing 21-of-28 from the stripe.

Nick Brunetti led the Phoenix with 11 points, while Matthew Stokes added 12 points on an efficient 6-of-8 shooting night. Triston Conger chipped in eight points and five assists, while Michael Nwoye pulled down seven rebounds to go with seven points. Jordan Jenkins provided a spark off the bench with seven points in 13 minutes, including a pair of timely first-half triples.

Middle Tennessee finished shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from three-point range, but did the bulk of its damage at the free-throw line, converting 21-of-28 attempts. The Blue Raiders controlled the glass with a 35-31 rebounding edge, including 12 offensive boards that led to 14 second-chance points. The Blue Raiders committed just eight fouls in the game and posted 10 assists on 23 made field goals, using its depth and physicality to pull away in the second half.

Middle Tennessee was paced by Jahvin Carter's game-high 20 points, while Torey Alston added 19 points and 10 rebounds to anchor the Blue Raiders inside.

Cumberland set the tone early, opening the game with confident perimeter shooting and defensive energy. Jaren Davis knocked down a pair of early three-pointers to give the Phoenix an early boost, while Jake Hatch and Nwoye controlled the glass. Jenkins came off the bench and drilled a three midway through the half as Cumberland pushed its lead to double digits, holding Middle Tennessee scoreless from the field for several key possessions.

The Phoenix continued to attack in transition, highlighted by a fast-break dunk from Stokes, and carried a 35-30 advantage into the locker room after leading for more than 18 minutes in the opening half.

Middle Tennessee responded out of the break, opening the second half with a strong push in transition to quickly erase the deficit. The game remained tight through the first five minutes of the half, with Brunetti answering a Blue Raider run with a three and Stokes converting multiple finishes inside to keep Cumberland level at 44-44.

However, Middle Tennessee used its size and depth to turn defensive stops into points, stringing together a decisive run fueled by free throws and fast-break opportunities. Carter and Alston combined for 27 second-half points as the Blue Raiders gradually stretched the margin to double figures.

Despite the final score, Cumberland continued to compete to the final horn, getting late buckets from Nwoye and Stokes while matching Middle Tennessee's physicality on the glass. The exhibition served as a strong measuring stick for the Phoenix, who showed they can compete with high-level opponents by controlling the paint, sharing the ball, and defending with purpose.

Cumberland will have a little break for Christmas before returning to action on December 29th to take on IU South Bend.

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Players Mentioned

#77 Nick Brunetti: G; 6' 4"; Sophomore

#1 Triston Conger: G; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#21 Matthew Stokes: C; 6' 9"; Junior

#2 Jaren Davis: G; 6' 3"; Freshman

#4 Jake Hatch: F; 6' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

#7 Michael Nwoye: F; 6' 7"; Freshman

#23 Jordan Jenkins: G; 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#77 Nick Brunetti
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: G

#1 Triston Conger
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: G

#21 Matthew Stokes
: 6' 9"; Junior
: C

#2 Jaren Davis
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: G

#4 Jake Hatch
: 6' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: F

#7 Michael Nwoye
: 6' 7"; Freshman
: F

#23 Jordan Jenkins
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G