Williamsburg, KY – The 11^th-ranked Patriots men's basketball team erased a 13 point second-half deficit to tie the game and force overtime, however, it wasn't enough as Cumberlands fell 93-88 to Pikeville Monday night on Randy Vernon Court.  With the win, Pikeville improves to 5-5 overall and 3-4 against the MSC, while Cumberlands moves to 9-4 overall and 3-4 in conference play.

Tevin Olison led the way for UC with 34 points and seven rebounds, while Ismiell Etienne added 16 points, five rebounds, and career-high four blocks.  Steven Fitzgerald and Lamar Harris finished with 11 and 10 points, respectfully.

Cumberlands opened the game strong as Josh Williams connected with Tevin Olison and Deng Mayot for three's to give UC an early 6-0 lead. The Patriots added buckets from Williams, Olison, and Hall to extend their lead to 12-5, five minutes into the first half.  The two teams traded baskets over the next several minutes until Williams drained a shot from just inside the arc to make it 22-18 in favor of the Patriots. A couple of possessions later, Mayot grabbed an offensive rebound, off a Lamar Harris miss, and put It back to keep UC in front 24-22.  From that point, Pikeville went on a 19-7 run to close out the first half with a 41-32 lead.

Josh Williams connected with Austin Hall for a bucket to start the second half, one of Williams' four assists in the game.   The two teams traded baskets over the next several minutes as Pikeville to a 55-42  lead, their largest of the game with 14:30 remaining.  The Patriots battled back, led by a bucket from Olison coupled with a put-back from Harris made it a nine-point deficit.  Both teams continued their hard play until Olison and Etienne combined for an 11-3 run to cut the deficit to 65-62 with 6:45 left. A minute later a Fitzgerald field goal brought UC within one point.  Cumberlands came within one-point three times over the next three minutes with the final opportunity with 2:34 remaining.  A minute later, UPike had a six-point lead, but Olison pulled up from just over half court and drained a three-pointer to make it 77-73 with 1:02 left.  The senior guard was fouled while shooting a three on the next Patriot possession, hit all three free throws to make it a 76-74 deficit with 31 seconds left.  Off the ensuing inbounds, Fitzgerald stole the ball from Korbin Spencer and laid it in to even the score at 78-78 with 23 seconds remaining.  Pikeville held the ball for the last shot, however, Etienne blocked Jordan Perry's shot to force overtime.

In the extra period, Olison found Etienne for a dunk before hitting a lay-up to put UC in front 82-80 with 3:44 left.  The Bears netted seven unanswered points, however, Cumberlands responded with five straight of their own to even the score at 87-87 with 49 seconds remaining.  Pikeville went on a 6-1 run to close out the game for the 93-88 final.

The Patriots return to the court Thursday, January 7, when they host Bethel at 8 p.m. on Randy Vernon Court.  Live video is available here, while live stats are available here.

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