Williamsburg, KY – Will Gary netted a career-high 20 points to lead the UC men's basketball team to a 99-75 win over Kentucky Christian in the second game of the Cumberlands Classic Friday night at the O. Wayne Rollins Center.  The Patriots, who had six players in double figures, improves to 11-2 while the Knights fall to 8-9.

Hayden Dun scored four of Kentucky Christian's first six points to give the Knights an early 6-4 lead.  Back-to-back buckets by Travon Lebranhe and Anthony Eaves put the Patriots on top 8-6 six minutes in.  The game saw the score tied on five different occasions over the next four minutes with the final time being 18-18 at the 9:58 mark.  The Patriots scored eight of the next ten points, including four from Bernard Samuel to take a 26-20 advantage.  Less than a minute later, Eric Duncan hit from long range to extend the lead to 29-23 with 6:27 remaining.  Duncan's second three-pointer, followed by a Samuel field goal gave Cumberlands a ten point lead.  UC used an 11-4 run to end the first half and take a 50-37 lead into halftime.

KCU hit the first basket of the second half, before the Patriots scored ten unanswered to extend the lead to 60-39 three minutes in.  Gary converted two of his career-high four second half three-pointers during that run.  The Knights cut the lead to 18 points, before Chance Morton's three-point play sparked a 13-0 run to extended the lead to 73-42 with 12:34 left.  Kentucky Christian responded with a14-7 run, over the next eight minutes, to cut the lead to 24 points at 80-56 with eight minutes remaining.   Minutes later Josh Dow and Lebranch each hit a field goal as part of a 6-0 run to put UC ahead 90-61. KCU ended the game on a 14-9 run for the 99-75 final.  

Leading the way for the Patriots was Gary, who tallied 14 of his career-high 20 points in the second half, and added five assists and five rebounds.  Lebranche earned his second double-double of the season as he recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds.  Duncan chipped in 15 points, while Samuel and Eaves finished with 13 and 12, respectfully.  Taylor Gover dished out a game-high six assists in the win.

The Patriots return to the court Saturday, December 30, when they host Stillman on day two of Cumberlands Classic.  Action is set to begin at 2 p.m. with Campbellsville and Kentucky Christian followed by UC vs. Stillman. Live video is available here, while live stats are available here for all of the games in the Cumberlands Classic.

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