PULASKI, Tenn. - Five RedHawks reached double-digits in a close loss to a streaking Cumberland University on Saturday, 76-73. MMC snapped a six-game win streak, dating back to January 28th, as they fell to 22-6, and 11-3 in conference play.
Ree McCrory was the high-scorer for the RedHawks in the affair with an 18 point performance, while James Justice turned in 14. LaQuantis Stewart knocked down 12 poins, alongside a team-high, nine-rebound mark, and both EJ Kirby and Jeremy Rodgers aided the RedHawks with 10 apiece.
Demario Williams and Stewart each dished out four assists, while Williams and Rodgers checked in with six and five rebounds respectively. Justice added to his effort with four steals and two blocks.
The game featured 14 ties and 10 lead changes, all in the second half, as a 58 percent from the field shooting-wise led MMC to a 45-41 lead at the half. The action heated up in the second frame, and the Bulldogs tied the game at 66-66 with 3:41 to go.
At the 1:52 mark, when CU had taken the advantage, Rodgers put away a bucket to cut the deficit to one, 72-71, but on the next possession, an inbounds pass with only seven seconds on the shot clock sent CU down the baseline for a basket that put them up by three. As McCrory converted two free throws with 13.7 seconds to go, another quick play from CU with eight seconds to go led to a Michael Sweat basket plus the and-one shot. A final three from MMC was short, thus leading to the 76-73 defeat.
The RedHawks head to Bethel University on Thursday, February 23rd, followed by their final regular season game on Saturday, February 25th when they host Trevecca Nazarene on Senior Day.
