Williamsburg, KY – The 20th-ranked Patriots men's basketball team continued their unbeaten start to the season Monday night, defeating Johnson University (Tenn.) 96-84 on the road. Cumberlands improved to 6-0 on the year behind a fast-paced offensive showing that saw five players score in double figures and a red-hot first half that put the game out of reach early.
Kyle Duke delivered another standout performance, scoring a season-high 31 points on 12-19 shooting with four threes, three assists, and three steals.
Brant Smithers stayed hot from deep, dropping 20 points on 7-11 shooting, including six from beyond the arc.
Andrew McConnell added 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while
Brady Bell tallied nine points, and
Malachi Robinson filled the stat sheet with eight points, seven rebounds, and a block. Off the bench,
Kyler McLendon had five points,
Tanner Walton recorded three points and four assists, and
Anthony Harris added two points and five boards.
UC came out firing from the opening tip as
Andrew McConnell scored the Patriots' first eight points, knocking down a three off a
Brady Bell assist before driving for a layup and then sinking another triple from the left wing to make it 8-2 just over two minutes in.
Kyle Duke followed with a steal and layup on the next possession, then buried a three on the ensuing trip down the floor to extend the lead to 13-2. After a Johnson timeout, Bell got in on the action with a mid-range jumper before connecting from deep on the following possession to push the advantage to 18-4.
The Patriots' momentum only grew from there.
Javecckio Thomas electrified the bench with a two-hand dunk at the 14-minute mark, and Smithers caught fire from beyond the arc shortly after, hitting back-to-back threes to make it 23-4. Robinson added to the highlight reel with a steal and slam in transition, then drew a foul on the next trip to hit two free throws and push UC's lead past 20. Harris came off the bench and sank a pair from the line before Robinson threw down another dunk off a McConnell steal to cap a 29-5 run midway through the half.
The Patriots kept their foot on the gas as Smithers continued his barrage from deep, hitting another three off a feed from Robinson before McLendon converted a layup through contact and Duke finished in transition to stretch the lead to 49-23 with five minutes left. A Smithers triple and another Duke basket helped UC close the half on a 10-2 spurt to take a commanding 59-38 lead into the locker room.
Cumberlands maintained control throughout the second half. Duke opened the period with another three before McConnell added a triple of his own to stretch the lead to 27. Johnson battled back behind perimeter shooting, but the Patriots continued to answer. Around the eight-minute mark, Bell threw down a two-handed dunk on a feed from Duke to push the margin back to 17.
Smithers connected on two more threes in the half, while Robinson added a highlight dunk off an assist from Harris to cap another all-around night for the sophomore forward. Duke sealed the game with a pair of midrange jumpers and a free throw down the stretch as the Patriots secured their sixth straight victory.
UC finished the night shooting 54.7 percent from the floor and 55.6 percent from three with a season best 15 triples made, while outrebounding Johnson 38-29, including a 13-9 edge on the offensive glass. The Patriots also tallied 15 assists on 35 made baskets and forced 11 turnovers, turning those into 18 points.
Cumberlands (6-0) will return to action on Friday, November 14, when they open play in the Campbellsville Classic against Brescia University (Ky.) at 5 PM inside the O. Wayne Rollins Center.
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