WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. ---- The Life University men's basketball team upset No. 21 nationally ranked University of the Cumberlands 82-75 Thursday night in the Mid-South Conference matchup.
NOTES
• Life U improved to 16-12 (6-6) on the year, while Cumberlands fell to 19-8 (6-6).
• The win moved the Running Eagles into a three-way tie for third place in the conference standings.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
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Demetrius Houston led the Running Eagle offense with 17 points. He added six boards, three steals, three assists and two blocks as he shot 7-for-9 from the floor.
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Connor Gamble finished with 16 and tallied four steals with three assists.
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Mike White (13),
Evan Milligan (12) and
Jay Jay Simpson (11) also finished in double digits for Life U.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Six minutes into the first half, a jumper from Milligan put Life U ahead 15-9. However, a 13-2 run Cumberlands gave the Patriots a 24-19 lead with 8:08 on the clock.
• With 1:58 remaining in the half, Cumberlands led 32-29, however a late 5-1 run from Life U gave the Running Eagles the 34-33 advantage at the break as Ashmeade finished with a layup with 23 seconds on the clock.
• Both teams traded the lead in the early minutes of the second half as a three from White put Life U ahead 50-47 at the 14:13 mark. Gamble hit a three on the next possession to put the Running Eagles ahead by six.
• With 9:07 remaining in the game, Cumberlands led 62-59, however back-to-back threes from White and Milligan put the Running Eagles ahead 65-62 with 8:19 remaining in the game.
• Simpson finished in the paint with a tough layup at the 5:30 mark to put Life U ahead by 9, 72-63. Cumberlands cut the lead to four with a short 5-0 run, but Gamble responded on the next possession with a three to give the Running Eagles a 75-68 lead with 2:13 on the clock.
• Life U finished the game 7-for-8 from the charity stripe to secure the 82-75 upset victory over Cumberlands.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Life U finished a season-high 30-for-56 from the field, 53.6%, while Cumberlands shot 27-for-64, 42.2%. The Running Eagles finished 11-for-29, 37.9% from beyond the arc, as the Patriots went 7-for-34, 20.6%.
• Life U forced 16 turnovers in the game and scored 17 points off of the chances.
• Life U shot 11-for-20, 55%, from the free-throw line as Cumberlands finished 14-for-18, 77.8%.
UP NEXT
• The men's basketball team will return to action on Thursday, February 21, as they continue Mid-South Conference and host Cumberland University at 8 PM for senior night.
