WILLIAMSBURG, KY – The No. 3 Patriots men's basketball team used a dominant stretch late in the first half to take control Saturday afternoon, defeating Dalton State 80-72 inside the O. Wayne Rollins Center. Cumberlands closed the opening period on a decisive 20-0 run to build separation and improve to 15-1 on the season.
 
Kyle Duke led all scorers with 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting, adding four rebounds and two assists. Brant Smithers provided a big lift off the bench with 18 points, knocking down four three-pointers, while Andrew McConnell finished with 17 points and a perfect 7-of-7 effort from the free-throw line. Javecckio Thomas contributed nine points and a game-high 16 rebounds, and Malachi Robinson added six points, five rebounds, and three steals. Anthony Harris chipped in seven points, Tanner Walton scored two while dishing out two assists, and Brady Bell finished with three points.
 
Dalton State struck first and held the early momentum, jumping out to a 9-3 lead in the opening minutes. Duke answered with a three from the top of the key, and Robinson followed with a dunk in traffic to cut the deficit to 11-8. After Dalton State pushed the lead back to seven, Smithers sparked the Patriots with back-to-back three-pointers to bring UC within one. Walton then found Smithers in transition for another bucket, and Harris added a layup to give Cumberlands its first lead midway through the half.
 
With just under two minutes remaining before the break, the Patriots seized full control. Smithers buried a fast-break three to tie the game, McConnell finished through contact to put UC in front, and Robinson added a steal and layup to ignite the crowd. Duke knocked down a pair of free throws, and Smithers capped the surge with a corner three as Cumberlands closed the half on a 20-0 run to take a 49-36 advantage into the locker room.
 
Dalton State opened the second half with renewed energy, cutting the deficit to single digits early, but the Patriots responded behind Duke and McConnell. Duke scored inside on consecutive possessions, and McConnell knocked down a jumper in the lane to keep UC in front 56-44. Thomas continued to dominate the glass, generating second-chance opportunities, while Robinson recorded another steal to stop a Dalton run.
 
The Roadrunners made one final push midway through the half, trimming the lead to six, but Smithers answered with a three from the wing, followed by a strong finish from Harris in the paint. Down the stretch, McConnell sealed the win at the free-throw line, converting four straight in the final minute to close out the 80-72 victory.
 
Cumberlands finished the afternoon shooting 38.4 percent from the field and held Dalton State to 44.6 percent shooting. The Patriots won the rebounding battle 45-42, forced 15 turnovers, and scored 16 second-chance points to secure the home win.
 
Cumberlands (15-1) will return to action on Thursday, January 8, when they open Mid-South Conference play on the road at Bethel University (Tenn.) with tip-off set for 8:30 PM ET.
 
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on X - @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, TikTok- @ucpatriots, YouTube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.