LEBANON, Tenn. ---- The Life University men's basketball team was unable to hold a late lead as the Running Eagles ended the 2020-21 season on the road Tuesday night in a 70-67 loss to Cumberland in the Mid-South Conference Tournament Opening Round.  
 
NOTES
• Life U finished the season 9-11, while Cumberland improved to 10-12.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS 
• Nathan Presnell led the Running Eagles offensively with a season-high 18 points.
• Derrick Cook was the only other Running Eagle to finish in double digits with 11 points and four assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
• Life U jumped out to an early 7-2 lead in the game with a free-throw from Presnell. With 11:40 on the clock, a layup from Cumberland gave the Phoenix a two-point advantage 11-9 before Kelly responded in the paint for two to tie the game.
• Cumberland again tied the game at the 8:37 mark, but Life U would control the lead heading into the break with the dunk from Moore, 33-30.
• Life U continued the offensive pressure in the second half, never trailing, but a 7-1 run from Cumberland cut the lead to one, 49-48, with 10:46 on the clock. A layup from Hernandez ended an 11-2 run for Life U as the Running Eagles led by 10, 60-50. A 10-0 Phoenix run quickly tied the game at 60 with 5:52 remaining in the game.
• Life U took a brief 65-64 lead with 3:15 on the clock after a three from Presnell, but the Phoenix responded to take back the lead the next possession 66-65. Presnell again came through for Life U with the basket at the two-minute mark to give the Running Eagles the 67-66 lead. Cumberland was able to capitalize in the final minutes as Life U fell 70-67 in the MSC Tournament Opening Round.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Life U finished 27-for-64 from the field, 42.2%, while Cumberland shot 28-for-59, 47.5%.
• Life U shot 8-for-24, 33.3%, from beyond the arc and 5-for-8, 62.5%, from the free-throw line. Cumberland finished 5-for-18, 27.8%, from distance and 9-for-11, 81.8%, from the free-throw line.
• Cumberland dominated Life U in points in the paint 44-22.