Williamsburg, KY – Jahi Hinson netted a career-high 19 points to pace the 21^st-ranked UC men's basketball team to a 92-66 win over Johnson Saturday afternoon at the O. Wayne Rollins Center. With the win the Patriots improve to 11-2 overall, while the Royals fall to 4-11.

Johnson took an early 7-4 lead in the game but five straight points from Hinson, including a three-pointer put UC in front 9-7 with 15:31 remaining. The Royals even the score and it remained that way until the 12:00 mark when Anthony Eaves connected with Malik Colvin-Seldon for a bucket to put the Patriots back in front.  Colvin-Seldon and Hinson combined for UC's next two baskets, however Johnson added a pair of field goals including a three pointer to tie the game 15-15 midway through the first half.  Cumberlands used a 15-2 run, that spanned five minutes to take 30-17 lead with 5:42 remaining.  UC extended their lead to as many as 16 points, however Taylor Gilpin sank a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 44-31 at the break.

Hinson hit back-to-back jumpers to start the second half and extend the Patriots lead to 48-31.  The Royals scored five straight points, before UC responded with an 8-0 run of their own, including four from Caleb Taylor to take a 55-36 lead with 15:03 remaining.  A minute later, Jordan Griggs netted nine straight points as part of a 13-3 run for Cumberlands to push the lead to 71-41, their largest lead of the game.  The Royals outscored UC 20-11 over the next six minutes to cut the lead to 82-61 with 4:02 remaining.  UC responded with Griggs draining another three, while Austin Hall and Morgan Carter combined for Cumberlands final seven points and the 92-66 final.

Hinson led the way with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Griggs tallied 19 points, including 4-6 from long range, and four rebounds.  Colvin-Seldon added 12 points, three assists, and two steals as Taylor chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds.  Eaves dished out a team-high four assists to go along with five rebounds in the game.

UC returns to action Saturday, December 29, as they host the Cumberlands Classic.  The Patriots face Freed-Hardeman at 8 p.m., before playing Xavier (LA) on December 30 at 4 p.m. in the O. Wayne Rollins Center. Live video of the game is available here, while live stats will be available here.

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