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Cumberland University

Nick Brunetti
82
Cumberland CMB 0
84
Winner Kentucky Christian KCU 0
Cumberland CMB
0
82
Final
84
Kentucky Christian KCU
0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Cumberland CMB 41 41 82
Kentucky Christian KCU 41 43 84

Next Game:

at Union Commonwealth (Ky.)

10/28/2026 | 7:00 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Oct. 28 (Wed) / 7:00 PM
at Union Commonwealth (Ky.)
History

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Ellis Posts Triple-Double in Narrow Season-Opening Loss

GRAYSON, Ky.--Kenny Ellis recorded a triple-double, but Kentucky Christian scored the final six points and LeMar Northington II knocked down a three-pointer with two seconds remaining to hand Cumberland an 84-82 loss in its men's basketball season opener Saturday.

Cumberland shot 50.8 percent from the field, connecting on 32-of-63 attempts, while going 3-for-12 from three-point range and 15-for-25 at the free-throw line. The Phoenix controlled the paint with a 54-38 scoring advantage and outrebounded the Knights 41-35. CU finished with 21 assists and 11 steals, turning 13 KCU turnovers into 17 points.

Malik Currie led Cumberland with 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting, adding six rebounds, four steals and three blocks. Ellis totaled 20 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists while shooting 9-for-15 from the floor. Arnez Anderson contributed 16 points, Nick Brunetti added 14 points and four assists, and Jaren Davis finished with eight points, four rebounds and three steals.

Kentucky Christian connected on 27-of-64 shots for 42.2 percent, including 7-of-26 from beyond the arc. The Knights made the most of their opportunities at the stripe, hitting 23-of-26 free throws for 88.5 percent. KCU recorded 18 assists, nine steals and four blocks while receiving 11 points from its bench.

Brandon Williams paced the Knights with 20 points, six rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks. Keaton Baird followed with 19 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Northington scored 15 points behind three three-pointers. Jayden Loydd added 11 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Blake Reed supplied 11 points off the bench.

Cumberland opened the game with 10 unanswered points, getting four apiece from Davis and Anderson before KCU broke through with 15:57 remaining. The Phoenix continued to build their advantage as consecutive Ellis baskets and a Currie layup pushed the margin to 21-7 with 12:57 left. 

CU matched that 14-point cushion at 23-9 on two Currie free throws, but the Knights answered with a 14-2 run to pull within 25-23 at the 7:08 mark. Williams later completed a three-point play to tie the game at 27-27 before Reed's three-pointer gave KCU its first lead, 30-29, with 4:47 remaining. 

The Knights led by as many as four down the stretch, but Cumberland stayed close and Currie sank two free throws with six seconds left to send the teams into halftime tied at 41-41.

Anderson's putback and a Brunetti three-pointer gave Cumberland the first five points of the second half, and the Phoenix maintained a narrow lead through much of the opening 10 minutes. KCU used six straight points to move ahead 66-63 with 8:33 remaining before Ellis answered with consecutive baskets and Currie buried a three-pointer to complete a 7-0 CU run.

After the Knights regained a 73-72 edge, Cumberland put together another surge, scoring six unanswered points on a Currie free throw, a Brunetti three-pointer and a Currie layup to lead 78-73 with 2:33 left. 

Ellis kept the margin at five with 1:41 remaining, and Currie's tip-in gave CU an 82-78 advantage with 58 seconds to play. Williams answered with a layup before Baird made one of two free throws with 12 seconds left. Northington collected the offensive rebound on the missed second attempt, then delivered the winning three-pointer with two seconds remaining to complete KCU's closing 6-0 run.

Cumberland returns to action Wednesday, Oct. 28, traveling to Barbourville, Ky., to face Union Commonwealth.
 
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Players Mentioned

Nick Brunetti

#77 Nick Brunetti

G
6' 4"
Junior
Jaren Davis

#2 Jaren Davis

G
6' 3"
Sophomore
Arnez Anderson

#5 Arnez Anderson

G
6' 2"
Junior
Malik Currie

#13 Malik Currie

F
6' 7"
Sophomore
Kenny Ellis

#1 Kenny Ellis

G
6' 1"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Nick Brunetti

#77 Nick Brunetti

6' 4"
Junior
G
Jaren Davis

#2 Jaren Davis

6' 3"
Sophomore
G
Arnez Anderson

#5 Arnez Anderson

6' 2"
Junior
G
Malik Currie

#13 Malik Currie

6' 7"
Sophomore
F
Kenny Ellis

#1 Kenny Ellis

6' 1"
Junior
G