Phoenix will take on the No. 17 Patriots in a midweek Mid-South Conference Matchup with both teams looking to get back into the win column.

Cumberland (10-13, 2-6 MSC) is coming off of a 79-85 loss to Campbellsville, where the Phoenix were able to cut a 16 point Tigers lead to three with a minute left in the game. This game is a rematch of a matchup on January 15th, with the Patriots winning 93-75 in Williamsburg.

This season, Cumberland is averaging 77.0 points per game on 45.4% shooting from the field, 32.4% from three, and 68.9% from the free throw line. Defensively, the Phoenix allow 78.5 points per game on 44.4% shooting from the field, 33.4% from three, and 68.1% from the free throw line. Looking at the turnover battle, Cumberland forces 15.7 turnovers per game and scores 16.6 points off of those turnovers, while coming 15.9 turnovers and allowing 17.4 points off of those turnovers. 

Individually, sophomore guard Triston Conger leads the way for the Phoenix, averaging 18.2 points per game on 49.3/31.1/79.2 shooting splits, while also distributing 3.9 assists per game and collecting 5.5 rebounds per game. The Hendersonville native is looking to build off his last performance against Campbellsville, where Conger went 9-17 from the field, 3-6 from three, and 8-9 from the free throw line to score 29 points for the Phoenix. In the frontcourt, freshman forward Michael Nwoye has become one of the best freshmen in the conference. The Antioch native is averaging 12.3 points on 54.6% shooting, while grabbing 8.4 rebounds per game and blocking 1.5 shots per game. Nwoye had his best career game against the Patriots on the road, scoring a career high 31 points, with 12 blocks, four steals, and three blocks. Helping Conger in the backcourt, freshman guard Zaylin Rowland has begun to rise up to the challenge as Rowland has started the last five games for the Phoenix. The Little Rock, Arkansas native is averaging 10.3 points per game on 45.8/35.9/60.9 shooting splits. Nick Brunetti (9.3 points), Riggs Abner (6.8 points), Jordan Jenkins (5.8 points), and Jake Hatch (5.3 points) add valuable scoring depth and have increased their three point shooting, as Cumberland has shot over 35% from behind the arc in five of the last six games. 

For the Cumberlands (19-6, 4-5 MSC), they dropped to No. 17 in the most recent coaches poll as they have dropped their last two games, a 88-94 loss to Lindsey Wilson and a 61-73 loss to now No. 15 Georgetown, both of those games were on the road. 

As a team, the Patriots score 86.9 points per game on 46.6% shooting from the field, 36% from three, and 67.8% from the free throw line. On the other side of the ball, the Cumberlands' defense allows 74.8 points per game while shooting 43.6% from the field, 32.3% from three, and 72.4% from the free throw line. Looking at the turnover battle for the Patriots, Cumberlands forced 12.8 turnovers per game and scored 15.6 points off of those turnovers, while committing 10.7 turnovers, and allowing 12.0 points off of those turnovers.

Individually for the Patriots, they are led by a three headed monster of a backcourt. Senior guard Kyle Duke is the engine of this offense, averaging a conference leading 21.1 points per game on 48.7/43.9/89.4 shooting splits. In the last matchup against Cumberland, Duke scored 28 points, collected five rebounds, and was 4-10 from behind the arc. Senior guard Andrew McConnell is the second part of this dangerous Patriots offense, scoring 13.1 points per game on 42.9/37.4/79.7 shooting splits. Redshirt junior guard Briant Smithers is the three-point specialist for this Cumberlands offense, averaging 11.6 points per game while shooting 40.5% from three, and making a conference leading 66 threes this season. Smithers went 7-10 from three against the Phoenix in their last matchup.

Looking at the history between Cumberland and the Cumberlands, the Patriots have dominated this matchup, with Cumberlands having a 30-10 advantage in the series, which includes a current seven game winning streak within the series. When the Phoenix host the Patriots, they have a record of 8-11. 

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 and will be streamed for free on the Urban Edge Network, with Jon Boyce and Harley Dixon being on the radio call on 98.9 WANT FM.