Williamsburg, KY - UC's men's basketball team dropped their first home game since the 2022–2023 season against the University of Rio Grande RedStorm Saturday afternoon. The Patriots led at halftime, but were outscored 32–20 over the final eight minutes of play for an 83–78 loss. Cumberlands now move to 9–4 on the season. 
 
Anthony Johnson led all scorers in Williamsburg on the day dropping 29 points. DJ Jones was the second highest Patriots scorer, finishing with 14 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Robertas Jonaitis added 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds and three blocks, a new career high for the Lithuanian. Matthew Cromer was the fourth and final Patriot to finish the game in double figures, netting 10 points with five rebounds and three steals as well.
 
UC jumped out to a 7–2 lead in exciting fashion as Johnson sailed through the air for a big slam, followed by a Jonaitis basket and a triple from Jones. The RedStorm answered back before Brady Bell knocked down his first three pointer of the game to put the Pats back on top by three. Another Bell three ball and a nice alley hoop from Tanner Walton to Johnson brought the score to 17–12 in favor of the Patriots with 13:51 to go in the half.
 
A Rio three put the RedStorm within two before an 11–0 Patriot run over the next five minutes of play extended UC's lead to 13 with just under eight minutes on the clock. A Johnson and-one sparked the run, followed by a jumper from Ryan Davidson off an offensive rebound. Cromer than added four points of his own before Jones capped off the run with a nice finish in the paint. Rio Grande responded by outscoring the Patriots 19–9 over the final seven minutes, bringing the score to 37–34 at the half. Tajahri Cave gave the Pats a small burst of momentum to take into the locker room with an impressive circus shot in the paint at the end of the half.
 
Bell and Jones started the second half with a FT each to grow UC's lead to five points. Cumberlands held a steady five-point advantage over the next five minutes before another alley-oop, this time from, Jonaitis to Johnson, put UC up seven. Rio did not back down, scoring the next seven points of the game to tie things up at 45-45 with just under 12 minutes on the clock. A nice pull up jumper out of Jones and another and-one from Johnson gave UC their lead right back. Johnson followed with another nice basket to go along with a Jonaitis layup that brought the score to 54-45 with 9:51 remaining.
 
Rio utilized a 12-6 run to make it a one-possession ballgame before Cromer nailed a three to Put UC back up by six. The RedStorm did not go away as they took the lead after grabbing four straight offensive rebounds on the same possession. Cromer answered back once again for the Patriots with his second triple of the game to go back up by one. The London, Ky native then earned his third steal of the game, leading to a foul that saw Jones make a pair of FT's. After another Rio basket, Jones knocked down two more free throws to make it 72-69 UC with three minutes to play. The RedStorm would finish the game on a 14-6 run to take the victory from the Patriots. Johnson added four of the team's final six points, including a late turnaround jumper that brought UC within two with 14 seconds on the clock. However, the Patriots could not force a turnover, sending Rio to the charity stripe where they sealed the game, 83-78.  
 
UC will return to the hardwood next Wednesday as they have an exhibition with NCAA DI Northern Kentucky University. Gametime is slated for 7 PM ET in Highland Heights, KY.
 
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