BOWLING GREEN, KY — The Life University Men's Basketball team traveled to Bowling Green on to take on the Cumberland University Phoenix. The Phoenix, who had a similar record to the Running Eagles, were thrust into their third and final matchup. This time the teams would be battling for tournament play.
The winner of the play-in will take on the number one seed, being Georgetown College. Due to inclement weather earlier during the week in Tennessee, the Host Site for the play-in, the game would be postponed and location moved.
Life University had already took on the Phoenix not too long ago for Senior Night, where the Running Eagles defeated them 82-70. This matchup looked for more of the same for the Running Eagles, who had a hot streak early in the first half.
The first ten minutes of the first was a slow start, with the score in single-digits up until the 12-minute mark. Guards Cam Horton and Connor Gamble would get warmed up behind the arc, with two-thirds of the shots coming from the three-point line. However, the score stayed in close quarters throughout the first half.
The Running Eagles would maintain a lead through the first half, but gave Cumberland seven chances to tie the score. Life U shot 50 percent from the field, and 72.7 from the free-throw line. Cumberland's 100 percent footing from the charity stripe would be a contributing factor in the score being in close proximity going into halftime.
In the second, Life kept the intensity going; from having a lead of six, to having a lead of 13 by the 15-minute mark. Horton and Maxwell would keep the score margin in double-digits, but Maxwell also had to play conservative, with him being in foul trouble.
Besides the foul trouble, there were other external obstacles that both teams faced, such as technical difficulties with the shot and game clock. The speed of play would be altered as a result, and scoring would slow down. However, Life kept their lead. In the final minute, Cumberland was successful in closing the score margin, but could not capitalize in gaining their potential first lead of the night.
The Running Eagles close out with a 68-64 win, relying on 3-4 shooting from the line in the final seconds of the game.
The Men would shoot 48 percent from the field, and 35.3 percent from beyond the arc. Half of their points would be from in the paint.
Efforts come from Horton and Maxwell, who finished with 18 and 20 points a piece. Gamble and freshman, James Leible finished with nine points. Leible also tallied five assists for the Running Eagles.
UP NEXT
The Running Eagles will go on to compete against No. 1 Georgetown in the first round of the Mid-South Conference Tournament on Saturday 3/7 at 2PM EST.
To view the Box Score click here.
For the Mid-South Conference Tournament updates, click here.
