Williamsburg, KY – Nnamdi Van Dulm, making his fourth start of the season, recorded career-highs in points, rebounds, and steals to lead the (RV) Patriots men's basketball to a 76-62 win over the sixth--ranked Georgetown College in their MSC home opener Thursday night at the O. Wayne Rollins Center. The win gave Coach Don Butcher and company their first Mid-South Conference win of the season and advance to a 14-5 record, as well as handing the Tigers their second loss of the season and first loss of conference play. 

It was a close race after the first half, as the Patriots trailed 35-33. UC dominated in the second however, outscoring Georgetown 43-27 to secure the win. The Patriots excelled off the board, tallying 47 rebounds and 19 second chance points. In addition, UC took advantage of 11 Tiger-turnovers and turned them into 20 points as a result. The Patriots heated up when the time was right, as four players post double-digit scoring on the night. In this margin was Jahi Hinson (18), Van Dulm (17), Malik Colvin-Seldon (16) and Jordan Griggs (10). Van Dulm continued to shine, tacking on 12 assists for his first career double-double. Caleb Taylor highlighted his eight-point night going 4-4 from the floor and tacking on four huge blocks. 

After three quick scores by Georgetown to give the Tigers a 6-0 advantage, Griggs tallied the Patriots' first score of the game. Following a Tiger charge, the Patriots picked up the pace, as Hinson landed a three-point shot to close the lead. On the turn-around, Griggs snags a steal but was unable to put it in on the break, however Hinson was there to snag the go-ahead score on second chance. Hinson laid in another score at the buzzer later in the half to end a 9-3 Georgetown run with 13:00 on the clock. Griggs tallied four more points to bring the score to 17-16 in the Tigers favor. A minute later, Hunter Bode put up the go-ahead score after coming in off the bench.  

Van Dulm continued the almost five minute, 9-0 run by the Patriots with an off-balance three-point shot, extending Cumberlands' lead to 21-17. Georgetown's defense proved tough for UC, forcing two shot clock violations before Hinson was able to sink a bucket from beyond the arc. With the game tied at 28 apiece with 3:24 left in the half, Colvin-Seldon pressured his way through the Tiger-zone defense, drawing the foul and making both free throws to accompany his field goal scored earlier in the half. Four Tiger free throws and a three-pointer later, the Patriots find themselves behind for the first time since the 9:46 mark. Danny Butt controlled the ball until the horn, nailing a three to go into the half down 35-33. 

Cumberlands resumed action with a tough defense. Taylor went up and swatted Georgetown's first shot attempt of the half and forcing the turnover on shot clock violation. Subsequently, Colvin-Seldon made another field goal to tie up the game. Offensive hustle led the Griggs to draw a foul on a later possession, making both to give the Patriots the 39-37 go-ahead. Van Dulm once again got the inside look from Taylor, laying in two points in the paint. After a Hinson field goal, Van Dulm snagged a steal and took it coast to coast for the 43-39 basket. 

After overcoming the halftime deficit, the Patriots' momentum was in full swing. The Tigers would not back down though, clawing their way back with a 6-0 run to eventually tie the game at 53 all. Van Dulm stood his ground in the paint, hoping to draw the Tiger-offensive foul despite no call. Instead, Colvin-Seldon reacted with field goals on back-to-back possessions to put the Patriots up 57-53. Tigers took another field goal and Caleb Taylor responds with a second-chance put-back and a blocked shot on the other end of the court. 

The Patriots continued to dominate on second-chance points, snagging another on the next two possessions to extend the score 63-55, highlighted by a Taylor slam to silence the Tigers with 3:41 to go. Taylor took another lay-in to extend the margin into double-digits. With the advantage, the Patriots attempted to wind down the clock while the Tiger defense persisted, taking UC to the line. With 1:08 on the clock, Van Dulm downed two free throws, giving him his first double-double of the season. 

After defeating Georgetown at home, the Patriots look to follow suit at Georgetown on February 9. UC takes to the court again this Saturday as they look to continue their momentum and down Campbellsville University with home court advantage. The game is set to tip-off at 4:00 pm. 

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