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Cumberland University

Nwoye
66
Cumberland (TN) CUTN 11-17
70
Winner Cumberlands (KY) UC 23-6
Cumberland (TN) CUTN
11-17
66
Final
70
Cumberlands (KY) UC
23-6
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Cumberland (TN) CUTN 36 30 66
Cumberlands (KY) UC 37 33 70

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Phoenix Fall Short in Quarterfinal Battle with Cumberlands

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.--Cumberland battled from start to finish Saturday night in the Mid-South Conference Quarterfinals, but No. 3 seed Cumberlands (Ky.) made the plays down the stretch to hold off the Phoenix, 70-66, at Bowling Green Arena.

The Phoenix shot 43.9 percent from the floor, finishing 25-of-57 overall, but were limited to 3-of-14 from three-point range (21.4 percent). Cumberland went 13-of-21 at the free throw line and scored 42 of its 66 points in the paint. The Phoenix pulled down 37 total rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass, while recording 10 blocks and five steals defensively. Cumberland committed 12 turnovers and dished out four assists in the contest.

Triston Conger led the way with 17 points and six rebounds, going 4-of-8 from the field and 8-of-11 at the line. Zaylin Rowland added 14 points on 7-of-16 shooting, while Nick Brunetti chipped in 13 points and four blocks. Michael Nwoye contributed 10 points, seven rebounds, six blocks and three steals, anchoring the Phoenix defensively throughout the night. Riggs Abner finished with six points and four rebounds.

Cumberlands shot 34.3 percent from the field at 24-of-70 and went 8-of-28 from three-point range. The Patriots converted 14-of-21 free throws and controlled the glass with 45 total rebounds, including 19 offensive boards that led to key second-chance opportunities. Cumberlands recorded 13 assists and committed just eight turnovers.

Kyle Duke led the Patriots with 20 points and six rebounds. Andrew McConnell followed with 16 points, including three three-pointers, while Javecckio Thomas added 12 points and eight rebounds. Brant Smithers also scored 12 points, and Malachi Robinson finished with six points and a game-high 17 rebounds to help Cumberlands advance to the semifinals.

Cumberlands wasted little time setting the tone from the perimeter. The Patriots opened the game on an 8-0 run behind back-to-back three-pointers from Duke and Thomas and a layup from Duke, forcing Cumberland to settle in quickly. Another 8-0 burst capped by a Brant Smithers three at the 14:52 mark, stretched the margin to 16-6 and gave the No. 3 seed early control.

Cumberland answered by attacking the rim and slowing the pace. Rowland sparked a response with consecutive layups, and the Phoenix began to chip away possession by possession. A 10-3 run midway through the half, fueled by Conger's drives and Brunetti's finishes inside, trimmed the deficit to single digits. Later, Cumberland put together its strongest stretch of the half, a 9-2 run highlighted by Brunetti's three-pointer to tie the game at 32-32 with just over four minutes remaining.

The Patriots responded with a brief surge of their own, using a Thomas three to regain the lead, but Cumberland closed strong. Rowland scored again at the rim, and Brunetti's layup with 1:28 remaining pulled the Phoenix within one. Cumberlands carried a slim 37-36 lead into halftime after trading baskets in the final minute, setting up a tight second half.

The back-and-forth battle continued immediately after the break. Cumberland briefly grabbed momentum behind strong interior play, and a quick 6-0 run gave the Phoenix a 60-58 lead with just over four minutes to play. Nwoye scored twice during that stretch, and Cumberland's defensive pressure began to create opportunities in transition.

Cumberlands answered with poise. The Patriots strung together a 6-0 run of their own, highlighted by a Duke layup and free throws, to reclaim a 62-60 advantage at the 3:11 mark. The teams traded the lead again as Dante Worley's free throw tied the game at 60-60 before Duke converted twice at the line to put Cumberlands back in front.

Duke and Andrew McConnell combined for four critical free throws in the final minute, pushing the margin to four. Riggs Abner answered with two free throws to make it 69-66 with 17 seconds left, but McConnell sealed it at the line with 16 seconds remaining, securing the 70-66 to end the Phoenix's tournament run. 

 
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Players Mentioned

Riggs Abner

#3 Riggs Abner

G
6' 6"
Graduate Student
Nick Brunetti

#77 Nick Brunetti

G
6' 4"
Sophomore
Triston Conger

#1 Triston Conger

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Michael Nwoye

#7 Michael Nwoye

F
6' 7"
Freshman
Zaylin Rowland

#42 Zaylin Rowland

G
6' 2"
Freshman
Dante Worley

#5 Dante Worley

G
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Riggs Abner

#3 Riggs Abner

6' 6"
Graduate Student
G
Nick Brunetti

#77 Nick Brunetti

6' 4"
Sophomore
G
Triston Conger

#1 Triston Conger

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
G
Michael Nwoye

#7 Michael Nwoye

6' 7"
Freshman
F
Zaylin Rowland

#42 Zaylin Rowland

6' 2"
Freshman
G
Dante Worley

#5 Dante Worley

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
G