Williamsburg, KY – 13th ranked Patriots men's basketball extended their win streak to 12 on Saturday, defeating Cumberland University 87-82 in an intense battle decided in the final minutes on Randy Vernon Court. The victory improves the Patriots' conference mark to 9-1 with an overall record of 20-4, while the Phoenix drop to 12-12 overall and 3-8 in MSC play.

UC had four players with double digits in the scoring column, led by Tevin Olison with 25 points. The performance marks six straight games the junior has managed 20 points or more, including his 33-point sharpshooting performance that earned him NAIA Player of the Week honors just 10 days ago. Caleb Taylor also filled out the stat sheet, notching his 13^th triple-double of the season with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Jordan Griggs went 2-3 from beyond the arc, posting 12 points while Steven Fitzgerald shot 5-9 from the field to finish with 13.

The Patriots outscored the Phoenix 12-5 in the opening four minutes of the contest, thanks in part to a pair of threes from Olison and Fitzgerald around the 16:30 mark. A Bri'an Brown jumper with 13:51 left in the period gave the Patriots their first double-digit lead, making it 18-8. The Phoenix mounted an 8-4 run in the following minutes, cutting UC's lead to within two just before entering the final 10 minutes of the half.

With 8:21 remaining in the first, a triple from Cumberland U's Jalen Duke tied the game up at 29, before back to back scoring possessions from both teams knotted things up once again at 32. Taylor made a layup in the low post with just under seven minutes on the clock to return the lead to the Patriots before a Griggs corner three extended the lead to six on the next possession. A free throw from Olison with 3:31 remaining put the Patriots back up by 10, making it 44-34. The Phoenix managed one more bucket in the final minute as the Patriots headed into the break leading 51-43.

Olison sank a deep three in the opening minute of the second half before a Taylor layup would extend the Patriots lead to 11 at the 18:18 mark. Cumberland U fought back, going on a 15-6 run spanning just over six minutes to cut the Patriots lead to two, making it 64-62 with 11:11 to go. The Patriots found themselves up 76-68 with 6:10 to go after an Olison jumper followed by a Griggs triple but were answered by back-to-back scoring possessions from the Phoenix.

Heading into the final two minutes, the teams were locked in an intense battle that included five free throws from the Phoenix. At the 2:25 mark, TJ Stargell made good on both attempts at the foul line to make it a two-point ballgame with the Patriots up 78-76. Ethan Snapp splashed a triple on the next possession that gave the Patriots a five-point cushion. With under a minute to go, Fitzgerald powered through contact, connecting on a layup off the glass and draining the subsequent free throw that put UC up 84-77. Both teams made appearances at the line in the final 40 seconds, with the Phoenix coming within four points. Olison made good on a double bonus free throw with 0:08 remaining, sealing the deal for the Patriots as they went on to win by a final score of 87-82.

Both teams shot the ball well, with the Patriots finishing at 57 percent from the field, edging out the Phoenix, who posted 53 percent. The rebounding margin also went in favor of the Patriots, who pulled in a total of 27 boards to Cumberland U's 25. UC notched season highs in both free throws made and attempted, connecting on 25 of 34 attempts from the line.  

Patriots men's basketball returns to action next week on Thursday, February 13^th, against top-ranked Tigers of Georgetown College. Tip-off from Randy Vernon Court is slated for 8 PM with live stats available here and live video available here.