Kingsport, TN – UC dropped their first game of the season to the eighth-ranked Raiders of Northwestern College 88-74, moving to 9-1 on the season. Cumberlands shot just 39% from the field, their lowest shooting percentage of the season, while only knocking down six threes, tying their lowest three-point total of the year. The Pats lost the battle in the lane, as they were outscored 52-34 in the paint.
 
Matthew Cromer led the Pats with a career-high 27 points, 11 rebounds, and five steals for his second-straight game with at least a double-double. DJ Jones was the only other Patriot to finish with double figures, scoring 21 points. Ryan Davidson added eight points off the bench while Robertas Jonaitis chipped in for seven points.
 
The Pats jumped put to an 8-4 lead over the first four minutes of play before the Raiders six points of their own to take the lead. A Cromer layup evened things back up at 10-10 before nine straight NC points made it 19-10. Five more points from Cromer and a Tajahri Cave jumper brought UC back within four with just over 10 minutes to play in the half. Layups from Jonaitis and Jones moved UC within three before the Raiders closed the half on a 16-4 run to take a 42-27 lead into the locker room. A Cromer jumper and a dunk from Harry Morrice were the only UC points over the final six minutes of the half.
 
A NC bucket started the second half before seven straight points from UC brought them within 10. Back-to-back buckets from Jones made it 46-38 but NC responded with nine points of their own to grow their lead back to 17. Northwestern would go up as much as 22 in the next six minutes, holding a 69-47 lead with 8:49 remaining.
 
The Pats did not back down, going on a 11-0 run behind a triple from Brady Bell and eight more points from Cromer, including a pair of threes. The Raiders stopped the run with a three before Anthony Johnson answered right back with a triple of his own, the first points of the game for Johnson. NC continued to respond to every basket the Patriots scored, keeping a 16-point advantage with just over five minutes to play. Davidson drilled a triple from straight away and followed with a pair of free throws before Cromer got to the line and knocked down two FT's of his own, making it a nine-point game.
 
Both teams traded and-one finish, as Davidson fouled the Raiders on the defensive end, and finished through the foul on the offensive side of the floor in response. Two more free throws from Cromer kept the deficit at nine with 2:08 on the clock, but that would be as close as the Pats could get, eventually dropping the contest 88-74.
 
This marks the first loss of the season for UC. They have a chance to respond tomorrow as they will be right back for their final game of The Show, taking on RV Ave Maria University. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:45 PM ET with live stats available here and live video here.
 
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