Box Score Williamsburg, KY – Tevin Olison netted 22 first-half points, while 11 players player netted at least four points as the 15^th-ranked UC men's basketball team defeated Johnson 104-66 in their season opener Friday night on Randy Vernon Court.  The Patriots never trailed in the game and it marks the seventh consecutive season the Cumberlands won its season opener.

Off the opening tip Austin Hall, who was making his first career start, grabbed a rebound and a put-back for the first bucket of the game.  After trading baskets, UC went on a 6-0 run to take a 10-4 lead five minutes into the first half.  Steven Fitzgerald followed that by scoring the Patriots next seven points to extend their lead to eight points with 11:59 remaining.  Jahi Hinson drained a three-pointer, before Olison scored 10 unanswered points, hitting a pair from long range and converting an old-fashion three-point play to UC a 32-15 advantage. Olison's strong play coupled with buckets from Hinson, Fitzgerald, and Kahlil Davis gave the Patriots a 51-29 lead at the break.

Johnson scored the first three points of the second half, however, UC responded with back-to-back three's from Austin Hall to extend the lead to 57-32 three minutes in. The Patriots used a Kahlil Davis three and a Deng Mayot bucket to outscore the Royals 12-5 over the next six minutes.  Two minutes later, Mayot connected on another field goal that sparked an 11-2 run to extend the lead to 84-44 with 8:10 remaining.  The Royals battled back cutting the deficit to 32 before five straight points by Patriot newcomer Isaiah Payton extended UC's lead to 93-54 with 4:33 left.  Kendall Robinson, Payton, and a pair of Lamar Harris dunk closed out the game for Cumberlands for the 104-65 final.

The win marks the first time since 2017 that UC scored over 100 points in a season opener. In that game, Cumberlands defeated Milligan 101-87.

Olison led all scorers with 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Hinson chipped in 18 points and eight rebounds.  Fitzgerald and Payton each reached double-figures finishing with 11 and 10 points, respectfully.  Hall converted on a pair of three's to finish with nine points, while Mayot, Davis, and Robinson tallied seven points each.

The Patriots will return to the court Tuesday, October 27, when they host IU Southeast on Randy Vernon Court.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. with live stats available here and live video available here.

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