Kansas City, MO – The Patriots fell just short to the Morningside Mustangs in the NAIA Round of 16 to conclude their historic season on Friday night. UC dropped the contest 80-74, ending the year 28-5. Although they came up short, this is the most wins for the Pats since 1995-96 where they finished the year 28-6.
 
Cumberlands had their worst three-point performance of the year, going 4-25 (16%) from beyond the arc. They were also outrebounded on the offensive glass, giving up 20 second chance points. Individually, Anthony Johnson was once again the catalyst for the Patriot offense. The sophomore scored 22 points off the bench. Harry Morrice had a massive performance off the bench as well, with a season high 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks. DJ Jones added 13 points with four assists and four rebounds while Jonathan Brown finished with 9 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast.
 
The Mustangs jumped out to a 12-4 lead over the opening five minutes of play, with UC's only points coming from Robertas Jonaitis. Two buckets from Johnson and a jumper from Brown put UC within two before MU stretched it back out to five. Tajahri Cave and Morrice responded with their first baskets of the night to tie the game at 17-17 before another basket from Morrice gave UC their first lead of the night with seven minutes left in the half.
 
Matthew Cromer added his first bucket of the night a few possession later followed by another jumper from Brown. Jones got out in transition and hit a layup as UC still held a two-point lead with five minutes to play. Morningside responded with a 14-3 run to end the half, taking a 37-28 lead into the locker room. UC's only points came from a Johnson triple, their only three of the first half.
 
J.J. Ramey started the second half with a basket to cut their deficit to seven. This would be the seniors only basket of the night. Jones added a lay in of his own before MU stretched their lead back to nine. Jones found Brown a few possessions later for three followed by a Morrice turn around jumper to make it a two-possession game. Morrice made his presence known on the other end getting back-to-back blocks the next trip down the court. He would score UC's next two baskets as well to make it a 48-41 game with 13:41 to play.
 
UC cut the MU lead to five off a nice finish from Johnson and a big shot out of Cromer through contact. MU continued to not let the Pats get back into the game, increasing their lead back to 11, their highest of the game. The Patriots rattled off eight straight to get back within one possession off a Johnson three, a jumper from Morrice, and an and-one finish in the paint out of Jones. The trio was responsible for UC;s next eight points as well, including two straight baskets from Jones to keep UC within three with three 3:05 on the clock.
 
The Mustangs hit a huge three the next trip down the floor, increasing their lead to six. Jones responded with another basket before both teams traded a pair of free throws, keeping the MU lead at four with just over a minute left. MU added two more FT's with 35 seconds left before a deep three from Johnson gave the Pats a glimmer of hope. UC was forced to foul, and Morningside made three of four shots from the line, going up 78-72 with 12 seconds left. Brown grabbed an offensive board and put it back up quickly for his ninth point of the game, and final points of his collegiate career. Johnson was forced to foul once again, recording his fifth foul of the night. UC's final senior Justin Sharp checked into the game in place of Johnson for the final possession of the game, as the buzzer sounded with UC down 80-74.
 
This marks the end of the 2023-24 season for Coach Matt Daniel and the Patriots Men's Basketball squad. They finish their year 28-6 and with their 31^st appearance at the NAIA National Tournament, and first trip to the Round of 16 since 2015-16.
 
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