WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. --- Despite the Life University men's basketball team's slow first half,  a 14 point second half performance by Nathan Presnell saw the Running Eagles get back into the game, but the comeback started a little too late, Life U falling to University of the Cumberlands 76-68 in Mid-South Conference play Thursday night.

Life U (5-9, 2-7 MSC) came out of the gates slow against Cumberlands (13-6, 7-4 MSC), falling behind quickly as the Patriots opened the game with a 9-0 run. The Running Eagles only shot 28.1% over the first half and that was only as good as it was in large part due to the team going 4-for-9 over the final four minutes of the period. Scoring nearly as many points in the final 4:11 of the half as they did in the other 16 minutes Life U cut the deficit, going into the break down a more manageable 32-19.

Jordan Hernandez opened the second half by draining a shot from behind the arc to cut the deficit back to 10 points, but the Patriots answered, pulling away to hold a 17 point lead with 14:38 remaining in play. The Running Eagles had another run at getting back into the game left in them, Dara Olonade tipping in a missed three point shot to pull back within 11 points, while Cam Horton took a Cumberlands' turnover on the following play quickly to the rim to cut the lead back to within single digits at 50-41 with 11:46 to play. The Running Eagles struggled to get closer than nine points through the following minutes until a steal and emphatic fastbreak dunk by Kyonze Chavis with 1:47 to play saw the score close to 70-63. With 45 seconds to play, Horton converted a three point play to see the score at its closest, 74-68, but the Patriots managed to stave off the comeback to win 76-68.

Presnell led the way for the Running Eagles, posting a team high 19 points, while other double digit scorers were Horton with 13, Hernandez with 12 and four rebounds, and Chris Barnes with 11 and four rebounds of his own.

Both team's offensive play was night and day from the first half, the second half efficiency seeing Life U ending up with a respectable 47.7%, while the Patriots registered an incredibly efficient 55.6%. Cumberlands' shooting advantage came in large part due to their solid shooting outside the arc at 8-for-16 (50%), while Life U only hit on 2-for-12 (16.7%). The Running Eagles' offensive strength came in the paint, outscoring the Patriots 52-38. Despite the advantage in paint shooting, Life U trailed in rebounds 35-24.

The Running Eagles stay on the road for their next contest this weekend, facing (RV) University of Pikeville in a Saturday afternoon Mid-South Conference game at 4 PM.