Williamsburg, KY – The UC Men's Basketball Team used a 31 point run in the first half to break open the game and didn't look back as the Patriots defeated Johnson 90-51 Tuesday night at the O. Wayne Rollins Center.  With the win UC improves to 6-0, while the Royals drop to 1-5.

Johnson jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead, before back-to-back buckets from Chance Morton and Malik Colvin-Seldon tied the game 7-7 with 15:30 remaining in the first half.  The Royals quickly answered with five straight minutes in less than a minute to take a 12-7 lead with 14:49 left.  UC took over the game at that point scoring 31 unanswered points, over a nine minute span, to take a 38-12 lead with 5:38 remaining in the half.  Cumberlands had six different players score on during the run, including eight points from both Anthony Eaves and Bernard Samuel.   Johnson went on a 7-0 run before Samuel's field extend the lead to 21 points at 40-19 with 3:49 left.  The two teams traded buckets over the final minutes of the first half giving the Patriots a 51-29 lead at the break. 

Cumberlands strong play carried over into the second half as the Patriots recorded the first six points of the second half to extend their lead 57-29, one minute in.  Minutes later, back-to-back three points from Eric Duncan and Eaves gave the Patriots a 65-32 advantage with 14:01 remaining.  The teams traded baskets before Travon Labranche tallied six of his ten points to extend UC's lead to 73-37 midway through the second half.  Later in the half, Jeremy Steadman and LaRoyce Eason knocked down free throws to give the Patriots a 39 point lead with 4:37 left, their largest lead of the game. Both teams traded baskets before Steadman hit from long range with 45 seconds remaining for the 90-51 final.

Leading the way for the Patriots was Duncan, who recorded a game-high 18 points and converted a career-high four three-pointers.  Kaashif English tallied career-highs in rebounds (10) and assists (4) to go along with nine points, while Colvin-Seldon's eight rebounds and four blocks were also a new career-high.  Morton chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds, while Samuel (14) and Eaves (13) also finished with double-figures.

Cumberlands 6-0 start is their best start since the 2014-2015 season when they began 7-0.  UC finished that season 23-11 and advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Championships.

The Patriots will return to the court Saturday, November 18, when they travel to Tuscaloosa, AL to face Stillman College.  The game is slated for 4 p.m.

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