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Cumberland (7-8) shot 46.2% from the field, connecting on 30 of 65 attempts, including 6 of 21 from beyond the arc for 28.6 percent. At the free-throw line, the Phoenix went 12-of-20 for 60 percent. CU was dominated on the glass getting outrebounded 54-36. The Phoenix also shared the ball well, recording 15 assists as a team, while limiting turnovers to just 11. Defensively, they tallied six steals and four blocks. Boyd poured in 20 points on 7-of-18 shooting, including three 3-pointers, his seventh 20-point game of the season. Triston Conger contributed across the board with 15 points, a team-high nine assists and seven rebounds while playing the full 40 minutes. Keyshawn Robinson also added 15 points, shooting an efficient 7-of-12 from the field, while Jalen Anglin chipped in 11 points. Khi Wallace anchored the glass with seven rebounds, tying Conger for the team lead. Off the bench, Riggs Abner made an impact with eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, including two 3-pointers, in just 12 minutes.

Blue Mountain Christian (7-9) was led by Jason Hunt and Vincent Douglas, who each had 20 points on the night. Hunt did his damage primarily from the free-throw line, where he went 12-of-15. Douglas matched Hunt’s scoring output with 20 points of his own while adding 10 rebounds for a double-double. Rameon Witt Jr. was efficient, contributing 18 points on 9-of-15 shooting and grabbing nine boards. Bryan Maxey added 14 points and seven assists, while Israel Momodu dominated the glass with a game-high 15 rebounds.

As a team, Blue Mountain shot 39.7% from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 2-of-21 attempts (9.5 percent). The Toppers capitalized at the free-throw line, converting 28 of 36 attempts (77.8 percent), and controlled the boards with a commanding 54-36 rebounding advantage, including 17 offensive rebounds.

Anglin got going early for the Phoenix scoring the first four points for CU, but Witt Jr., was equally as hot out the gate scoring eight of the first 10 points for the Toppers in the first five minutes to 10-6 BMC lead.

Conger drilled a three to spark a 11-2 run for Cumberland to retake an early lead. On the run, Robinson scored on the lane, Conger scored a layup and Anglin and Wallace each scored in the paint for a 17-11 lead. The Toppers answered with a 6-0 run to get back ahead 18-17 at the halfway mark in the first scoring four from the line.

Offense slowed over the next three minutes as the Phoenix picked up a basket from Boyd. But Blue Mountain snapped out of its scoring drought with a 7-0 run to bring the game to the second media trailing 25-19 with six minutes left in the half.

The run continued after the timeout as Douglas scored in the lane to give the Toppers their largest lead of the half up 27-19. Nick Brunetti got the Phoenix on the board after a four minute drought knocking down two free throws. The Toppers answered back with the next three points before Abner drained a triple.

Cumberland would pick up two more points in the lane from Brunetti and go into the half trailing 33-26.

Cumberland came out quickly in the second half to get right back in the game. Robinson scored in the paint before a BMC answer. Robinson and Conger combined to go on a 8-0 run after that for the Phoenix to regain the lead at 36-35 and force the Toppers into a timeout.

Robinson continued the run after the timeout with a bucket in the paint. The Toppers leveled the score with three free throws from Maxey, but Anglin got the momentum back for Cumberland with an and-one conversion to lead 41-38 with 16 minutes left.

Blue Mountain went on a 8-2 spurt to regain the lead. But just before the first media timeout in the second half, Cumberland went on a 9-0 binge to recapture it at the stoppage, 52-46. On the run, Conger made a shot, Robinson hit two layups, Cooper Abner made one from the line, and Anglin got a floater to go.

The Toppers went back on a run of their own, scoring the next eight points to Blue Mountain back ahead 54-52. Conger scored in the line to tie the game before another 4-0 spurt for the Toppers to lead 58-54 with 8:37 left.

Blue Mountain held on to a four point lead until 62-58. The Phoenix would go on a 4-0 spurt to tie the game at 62-62 on a pair of free throws from Brunetti and a layup from Riggs Abner. Douglas converted an and one for BMC and Abner drained a three to tie the game back at 65-65. The Toppers again scored the next three and Boyd answered with a triple.

Tied at 68-68, Blue Mountain went on a 10-1 run converting four from the line. Maxey hit a jumper and Witt, Jr. made two baskets in the run to put BMC up 78-69 with two minutes to play.

Boyd took over the final two minutes converting an and-one and hitting a bucket to make it a four-point game. With under a minute to go, Blue Mountain had a big offensive rebound and putback and then made their free throws down the stretch to come away with a win, 88-78.

Cumberland will now turn its attention to Mid-South Conference play in one week. The Phoenix will travel to McKenzie to take on Bethel at 7:30 p.m. Thursday following the women’s game.

Phoenix holds off Oakland City

OAKLAND CITY, Ind. — Cumberland’s men bounced back to get a hard-fought win over Oakland City, 70-66, Monday to close out the Dunn Hospitality Classic.

The Phoenix (7-7) returned to .500 with the win and are winners of seven of their last eight contests.

They got off to a blistering start leading by 18 points up 21-3 after just five minutes of play. Oakland City fought back to get back in the game, but the Phoenix held off the comeback attempt to get the victory.

The Phoenix shot 45.5% from the field (25-55) and 30% from 3-point range (6-20). At the free-throw line, Cumberland converted 14 of 20 attempts for a 70-percent mark. The team excelled in the paint, scoring 36 points inside and capitalized on 14 points off turnovers.

Triston Conger led the Phoenix scoring 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, while also adding five rebounds and four assists. Demarius Boyd contributed 15 points, shooting 6-of-14 from the field and adding three rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Jalen Anglin also had a strong outing, finishing with 15 points, including three three-pointers. Keyshawn Robinson rounded out the double-figure performances with 11 points, five rebounds, and two assists playing in all 40 minutes. Khi Wallace scored just six points in the game, but found other ways to help the Phoenix win including grabbing 13 rebounds.

Oakland City (4-9) shot 41.7% from the field (25-60) and struggled from 3-point range, hitting just 5 of 21 attempts for 23.8 percent. The Might Oaks’ defense forced 17 turnovers, leading to 25 points off turnovers. Oakland City’s bench was a significant factor, scoring 24 points.

Hunter Johnson led Oakland City with 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting. Aamir Mack added 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, along with two rebounds and two assists. Former Phoenix Jaylen Negron came off the bench to provide a spark for the Mighty Oaks, scoring 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting, including three 3-pointers, and adding nine rebounds.

Cumberland came out blistering hot to start the game building a huge 21-3 lead in the first seven minutes of play. The Phoenix were firing on all cylinders. Robinson and Conger led the charge with quick baskets, while Anglin knocked down a three-pointer and Boyd added a layup, helping Cumberland establish the dominant early lead. The Phoenix also capitalized at the free-throw line, with Conger and Boyd both getting on the scoreboard there, further extending the lead.

However, Oakland City wasn’t down for long. The Mighty Oaks responded with a strong run of their own, outscoring Cumberland 14-0 over the next several minutes to cut the deficit to 21-17. Nick Brunetti finally ended the run with a triple from the corner to give life back to the Phoenix. Hunter Johnson was a key factor for Oakland City, scoring seven points during the run, including a three-pointer and a layup. Aamir Mack added two baskets and Negron buried a triple for a 24-17 score at the midway point of the first half.

The Phoenix pushed it back to a nine point game with a pair of free throws from Anglin, 26-17. However, the former Phoenix Negron got going hitting a layup and a three to trim the lead, but CU responded with a 6-0 spurt to get back up by 10, 32-22 with 5:41 left.

The Mighty Oaks held Cumberland scoreless the next three minutes of clock and went on an 8-0 run to make it a one-possession game 32-30. Cumberland closed the half with a 5-0 spurt on an and one from Conger and a bucket from Robinson for a 37-30 lead at the break.

The second half started with both teams exchanging early baskets. Conger gave the Phoenix an early boost with a layup, making it 51-40 with 15:50 remaining. At this point, Oakland City went on another big run this time to take their first lead of the game. The Mighty Oaks went on a 13-0 run capped by a triple from Negron for a 53-51 lead.

Cumberland immediately answered with a huge three from the corner from Anglin to regain momentum. The three ball sparked a 10-0 run from Cumberland. On the run, Conger and Boyd each made buckets and Brunetti drilled a three for a 61-53 lead with 7:22 to play.

Oakland City answered with an 8-1 run to get back within a point with three minutes left.

With the game hanging in the balance, Conger stepped up, hitting crucial free throws and a layup to make it 64-61. Oakland City fought back, as Johnathan Claxton scored a layup to bring the score to 64-63. Wallace got a big offensive board and putback to push it to a three point game with 90 seconds left, but a quick answer from Claxton brought it back with a minute to play.

Cumberland had the ball with a chance to extend the lead, but could not get the shot to go. On the ensuing possession, Robinson came up with a big steal that led to a layup for Conger in transition and made it a three point game. The Mighty Oaks got it across half court and took a timeout. Cumberland immediately fouled on the inbound sending Claxton to the line. He made the first and missed the second. Wallace made two clutch free throws to ice the game and give Cumberland a 70-66 win.

Conger, Wallace garner MSC weekly honors

Cumberland’s Triston Conger and Khi Wallace were named Mid-South Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week released on Monday by conference officials.

Conger went for 19 points shooting 9-for-12 from the field in Sunday’s loss to Indiana-Kokomo. He also added in six rebounds, seven assists, and six steals in the game.

This season the point guard has played well for Cumberland averaging 15.3 points per game, which ranks him in the top 10 for scoring average in the conference at No. 9. He is second in the league with assists at 52 this season and second in steals with 36. He is also averaging 4.1 boards per game.

Wallace posted a double-double with three blocks and a steal. Wallace posted 18 points and a team-high 12 rebounds against IU-Kokomo.

This season, Wallace has notched three double-doubles in the last four games. He is averaging 9.8 points per game and is second in the conference in rebounds per game at 7.3. Wallace is eighth in the Mid-South in blocks with 12 this year and is eighth in field goal percentage shooting an efficient 60.2% from the field.

This is the first player of the week honor for both Conger and Wallace of the season and of their career. Conger is Cumberland’s first offensive player of the week this season and Wallace is the second defensive player of the week joining Keshawn Robinson.