CU men’s win streak snapped in overtime

HENDERSON – Cumberland's men squandered a 10 point lead against Freed-Hardeman with a minute-and-half remaining in regulation to force overtime and only scored one bucket in the extra period to drop a 103-95 decision Monday night in non-conference action.

Charles Stewart’s career night of 20 points (15 of which came after halftime) and nine assists was not enough to propel CU. The Bulldogs (5-5, 1-3) were unable to pull out another victory against FHU as they did last week, outlasting the Lions 73-69.

The game started at a fast pace, with Jerret Towns knocking down an early three-pointer, followed by baskets by Creshaun Holt and Brian Blackmon to push CU to a 7-6 lead. A three by FHU’s Damion Wooten with ten minutes to go gave the Lions a six point advantage before Towns answered with another three.

With six minutes remaining in the first half and FHU leading by seven, scores by Blackmon and Daniel McFadden tightened the score to 32-30. The teams traded baskets in the final two minutes, and the Lions ended the half leading 47-38.

Cumberland’s Elijah Gillis got into the action in the second half, making seven consecutive points to trim the Lions’ lead to six. FHU held steady for the first nine minutes of the half before Cumberland began to make a move. With 11 minutes remaining and the Lions in control by 10, CU mounted a furious comeback. Stewart drove and scored at the rim several times, Lester Gude hit two shots from deep, and Daniel McFadden made a basket and drew the foul to outscore FHU 32-12 and earn a 10 point lead with just 90 seconds left to play.

The Lions picked up their full-court defense, pressuring the Bulldogs into five turnovers in under forty seconds. Towns grabbed a defensive board with 26 seconds left and was fouled, leaving him bloodied. E.J. Perry was substituted in to shoot the free throws for Towns, and hit the front end of the double bonus, giving CU a two-point lead. FHU was able to tie the game on a field goal and send the game into overtime.

McFadden scored the first points of the extra period within seconds on a field goal while being fouled, but was unable to connect at the line. The Lions countered with two free throws and a pair of buckets to hold a four-point lead with three minutes left. Gude nailed one from beyond the arc to slice the lead to 93-92, but that would be CU’s final points on the night, and FHU would go on to hit two more field goals and six free throws to seal the victory.

Towns, Perry and Gude each contributed 13 points, hitting 10 of the team’s 12 three-pointers on the night.

Both teams shot well from the floor, with the Bulldogs hitting 52 percent of their shots and the Lions connecting on 54 percent. CU was outrebounded 38-23 and made 12 fewer free throws.

For FHU (7-5), Orlando Bass had 20 points.

CU will compete against another non-conference opponent, Faulkner, when the Bulldogs return home Dec. 17 for a 6 p.m. tipoff. 

Perry propels Bulldogs to Saturday win

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – E.J. Perry connected on four three-pointers, en route to a team-high 14 points to direct Cumberland to a 66-42 victory over non-conference opponent Oakwood Saturday night.

This was the second meeting of the teams, with the Bulldogs also winning the first contest at home by 10 on Nov. 8.

CU started the game out hot, connecting on the first four shots, spurting out to a 10-3 lead, thanks in part to two three-pointers by Jerret Towns and a hoop by Brian Blackmon. Leading 22-11 with nine minutes to go in the half, Cumberland went frigid from the floor, only mustering two field goals and two free throws the rest of the way. Meanwhile, Oakwood began knocking down shots, creeping back into the game to give the Bulldogs a 28-25 lead heading into the locker room.

CU came back alive after the break, gearing up on the defensive end, allowing only five Ambassador field goals in the final 20 minutes. Twelve Bulldog players entered the game, and Ryan Slusher was the eleventh teammate to score, hitting the game's last point on a free throw.

Cumberland hit 49 percent of their shots, while Oakwood connected on 27 percent, including 2-of-21 from beyond the arc.

Towns and Lester Gude each added 10 points, and Creshaun Holt grabbed six rebounds.

For the Ambassadors, Ronald Baltimore scored 18 points.