Lebanon, TN – Multiple career bests carried the Patriots over the Phoenix of Cumberland University on the road Saturday afternoon. UC defeated CU 103-98 behind a dominant three-point shooting night from Matthew Cromer along with an impressive night at the charity stripe as a team. The Pats went 29-37 from the foul line, shooting just under 80%, their most made FT's in a game this season. Cumberlands move to 15-5 on the year and 4-1 in MSC action.
Cromer nailed seven threes in the contest for a career high 29 points while also grabbing eight rebounds. Anthony Harris also finished the game with a new UC career high, scoring 21 points off 8-9 shooting, and finished with five boards and four steals. Anthony Johnson added 17 points, going 11-13 from the charity stripe, his most free throws made in a game. Robertas Jonaitis rounded out the Pats in double figures with 14 points and eight rebounds.
The first half saw both teams going back and forth with big run after big run. CU opened the game on a 12-4 run over the first four minutes of play. Four straight Cromer points halted the run, before the senior knocked down his first triple to make it 14-11. Tajahri Cave followed with two made free throws to bring UC within one before a Jonaitis layup gave UC their first lead of the game. Two more FT's, this time from Johnson, extended the lead to three with just over 13 minutes on the clock.
CU tied the game two minutes later but continued to send UC to the foul line where Harry Morrice scored his first two points. Harris doubled the lead with a lay in while Cromer followed with another three to make it 26-21. Harris scored again, this time with a huge slam that grew the lead to seven. Buckets from Ryan Davidson, Cave, and Harris held the Pats lead before an eight-point Phoenix run evened the score once again. Harris broke the tie with a steal that led to a dunk on the other end. Johnson added his first basket of the game along with back-to-back Cromer triples, making it 46-38 UC. Cumberland U responded with the final six points of the half to cut their deficit to two, as UC took a 46-44 lead into the break.
Cave opened the second half with an easy bucket in the lane. Both teams then went back and forth until a Phoenix run gave them a 59-54 lead. Cromer responded with yet another three to make it a one possession game. A Jonaitis layup and two more free throws for Johnson gave the Pats back the lead. Tanner Walton added a layup followed by three more Cromer points to put UC up 66-60 with 11:22 to play.
The lead grew to nine after a Cave and-one and two Jonaitis foul shots. The Phoenix pulled within four, but Cromer answered once again with a shot behind the arc. UC held their seven-point lead to the five-minute mark where a Johnson bucket gave UC an 87-79 advantage. The lead grew to nine with another Harris steal leading to an and-one poster dunk over a CU defender. The Phoenix answered with an 8-2 run, pulling to within two with just over two minutes to play.
Harris halted the run with a massive three to put UC back up five. This was UC's only three not from Cromer in the game. After a Patriot foul that led to two CU made foul shots, Morrice came up big with a nice finish in the paint to extend the lead back to five with under a minute remaining. Cumberland Univ. scored the next trip down the court, before Morrice knocked down a jumper for his second-straight bucket, holding UC's two-possession lead. The Phoenix were forced to foul, sending DJ Jones to the charity stripe, where he iced the game going 3-4 on the final two possessions. The final buzzer sounded with UC taking the victory, 103-98.
Cumberlands are now 15-5 on the season and have won four out of five Mid-South Conference matchups. They now look ahead to next Thursday where they will host the Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll.
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