CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY – The No. 17 Patriots men's basketball team picked up an important Mid-South Conference road win Thursday night, defeating Campbellsville University (Ky.) 76-66 inside Powell Athletic Center. Cumberlands used timely defense and balanced scoring to improve to 21-6 overall and 6-5 in MSC play.
Kyle Duke led the Patriots with 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting while adding four rebounds and three assists.
Andrew McConnell finished with 17 points and seven rebounds,
Javecckio Thomas added 12 points and five rebounds, and
Anthony Harris provided 10 points off the bench.
Malachi Robinson scored eight,
Ikemba Otuonye had six, and
Kyler McLendon finished with three as eight Patriots reached the scoring column.
Cumberlands jumped out to an early advantage as Thomas scored inside and McConnell added a layup to make it 4-0. A three from
Brady Bell pushed the edge to 10-2 midway through the first half, and Robinson followed with a fast-break finish as UC moved in front.
CU countered and trimmed the margin to 21-19 with under 10 minutes left in the opening period, but Duke answered with a jumper and Robinson finished in the paint to restore separation. UC carried a 34-30 lead into the locker room after closing the half with free throws and a late inside finish.
The Tigers cut the deficit to two early in the second half, but McConnell buried back-to-back threes to push the lead to 40-33. Duke continued to attack the rim and converted in transition to extend UC's advantage. Midway through the period, Harris threw down a dunk and Otuonye hit a put-back to keep the Patriots ahead 51-43.
Campbellsville rallied to make it 59-56 with just over eight minutes to play, but Cumberlands responded behind steady scoring from Duke and clutch free-throw shooting from McConnell. Duke's layup with just over two minutes left made it 72-62, and McConnell closed the game at the line as the Patriots held on for the 76-66 victory.
Cumberlands shot 50.0 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from three while scoring 34 points in the paint. The Patriots forced nine turnovers and turned second-chance opportunities into 12 points as depth and defense helped secure the road win.
Cumberlands (21-6, 6-5 MSC) will return to action Saturday, February 21, when they host Lindsey Wilson University (Ky.) at 3 PM inside the O. Wayne Rollins Center.
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