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Cumberland University

Malik Currie
Malik Currie slams a dunk home at Union Commonwealth. (Picture Courtesy of Union Commonwealth)
90
Cumberland (TN) CU 0-2, 0-0
93
Winner Union Commonwealth UCU 1-0
Cumberland (TN) CU
0-2, 0-0
90
Final
93
Union Commonwealth UCU
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Cumberland (TN) CU 37 45 8 90
Union Commonwealth UCU 44 38 11 93

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10/30/2026 | 7:00 PM

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Oct. 30 (Fri) / 7:00 PM
 Brescia University (Ky.)
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Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Phoenix Erase 11-Point Deficit Before Falling in Overtime

BARBOURVILLE, Ky.--Cumberland erased an 11-point deficit and held a late lead in regulation, but Union Commonwealth outlasted the Phoenix in overtime, 93-90, Wednesday night. Arnez Anderson scored 25 points to lead five Phoenix in double figures as Cumberland slipped to 0-2 on the season.

Cumberland shot 44.2 percent from the field, connecting on 34-of-77 attempts, while finishing 6-for-26 from three-point range and 16-for-27 at the free-throw line. The Phoenix scored 52 points in the paint and recorded 25 assists against just eight turnovers, adding 10 steals and 22 points from the bench.

Anderson went 10-for-20 from the floor with three three-pointers, scoring 19 of his 25 points in the second half while adding four rebounds and three steals. Nick Brunetti finished with 16 points and five assists, while Mari Bowman provided 15 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Kenny Ellis totaled 13 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals, and Malik Currie posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds on 5-of-6 shooting.

Union Commonwealth finished 30-for-72 from the field for 41.7 percent, including 4-for-28 from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs converted 29-of-45 free throws and held a 53-39 rebounding advantage, collecting 21 offensive boards that helped produce 23 second-chance points. Union also registered 21 assists and committed 13 turnovers.

Jabari Covington paced the Bulldogs with 27 points, going 8-for-17 from the field and 11-for-15 at the foul line. Ali Sakho contributed 16 points, 18 rebounds and five assists, including eight offensive rebounds. Kaevon Ennis added 14 points, while Sawyer Thompson finished with 13 points and five assists.

Union established an early advantage before Cumberland pulled even at 4-4 on an Anderson layup. The Bulldogs answered with an 8-2 stretch and later used seven unanswered points to build their largest lead of the night, 26-15, with 9:01 remaining in the first half.

Currie helped keep Cumberland within reach, scoring eight points during a stretch that included two dunks. Bowman then supplied six straight Phoenix points, converting a three-point play before knocking down a triple to trim the deficit to 33-29 with 3:48 left.

Union responded with three consecutive baskets to stretch the margin back to 10. The Bulldogs maintained that cushion into the closing seconds before Brunetti buried a three-pointer at the buzzer, sending Cumberland into halftime trailing 44-37. Bowman led CU with 11 first-half points.

Anderson took over offensively to begin the second half, scoring Cumberland's first 15 points of the period. His second three-pointer brought the Phoenix within two, and a layup followed by a free throw put CU ahead 52-51 with 15:58 remaining.

The Bulldogs answered with nine straight points to regain control at 60-52, but Cumberland continued to chip away. Trailing 73-69, the Phoenix scored five unanswered points on baskets from Brunetti and Currie and a Jaren Davis free throw to move back in front with 5:23 left.

After Union reclaimed a 77-74 advantage, Ellis, Anderson and Brunetti supplied consecutive baskets during a 6-0 Cumberland run. Brunetti's jumper gave the Phoenix an 80-77 lead with 2:27 remaining.

Union tied the game at 80 before Bowman came up with a steal and layup to put Cumberland ahead with 24 seconds left. Covington answered with two free throws seven seconds later, and Bowman's jumper at the end of regulation would not fall, sending the teams to overtime tied at 82.

Devin Dunn opened the extra period with a jumper, and Union held the lead throughout overtime. Cumberland managed just two free throws through the first four minutes as the Bulldogs built an 89-84 advantage on Jeremiah Beck's tip-in with 44 seconds remaining.

Brunetti immediately answered with a three-pointer to cut the deficit to two. After Union extended the margin to 91-87 at the foul line, Anderson connected from beyond the arc with 13 seconds left to bring Cumberland within one. Covington made two free throws with two seconds remaining to secure the 93-90 decision.

Cumberland returns to Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena for its home opener Friday, Oct. 30, hosting Brescia University at 7 p.m.
 
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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
Mari Bowman

#8 Mari Bowman

G
6' 2"
Freshman

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
Mari Bowman

#8 Mari Bowman

6' 2"
Freshman
G