Life U Athletics
Billy Mangum, Sports Information Director
MARIETTA, Ga. – The Life University men’s basketball team nearly pulled off the incredible upset Saturday afternoon over No. 11 University of the Cumberlands. The Running Eagles’ 68 second half points came up just short in the 107-105 Mid-South Conference loss.
Life U (4-3, 0-3 MSC) held an early 8-6 lead five minutes into the first half with a three from Hart. A pair of free throws from Tanksley at the 10-minute mark tied the game at 16 before Cumberlands went on an 8-0 run over the next three minutes.
Cumberlands (8-2, 2-2 MSC) led by as many as 10 (31-21) with five minutes left in the first half, however a 9-2 run from Life U cut the lead to just three, 33-30, with 2:53 on the clock after a pair of free throws from Mosquera-Perea. Cumberlands went into the locker room ahead by 11, 48-37, as Olison ended the half with a deep three from half court at the buzzer.
Cumberlands led by double digits a majority of the second half, but a 13-4 run was finished on a three from Lewis to put Life U within eight, 72-64, with 11:24 on the clock. With 6:16 to play, the Patriots connected from the free throw line to lead by 14, 90-76. An incredible 14-5 run from Life U narrowed the lead to five, 95-90 with 1:31 left in the game.
Cumberlands quickly responded to lead by eight, 102-94 with 19 seconds in the game. Hernandez caught fire and sank three deep shots from behind the arc in 16 seconds as Life U cut the lead to just one, 106-105 with three seconds to play. A quick foul forced Cumberlands to the line once again. The first fell and as the second came off the rim a last second heave fell just short as Cumberlands survived 107-105.
Jordan Hernandez led the Running Eagles with a career-high 32 points. He finished 7-for-10 from behind the arc and 9-for-10 from the charity stripe.
Danny Lewis finished in double figures in his first game of action with three assists and a pair of rebounds. Isaiah Hart added 16 points with a pair of assists and a steal.
Lorenzo Ferrell (13) and Daylon Tanksley (11) also tallied double digit finishes for Life U.
The men’s basketball team will take a brief pause from the court and will return to action on New Year’s Eve, December 31, as they travel to McKenzie, Tenn. and face Bethel University in Mid-South Conference action.