Cats Play Cumberland in Regular Season Finale Saturday in Lebanon
LEBANON, Tenn. – The Bethel Wildcats will close out their regular season Saturday at Cumberland University. Tip-off in the Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena in Lebanon takes place at 3 p.m.
The Wildcats are 17-10 overall and 3-8 in the Mid-South Conference. Bethel is 4-4 in road games on the season.
The Phoenix sport a 10-15 mark and are 2-8 in the league. Cumberland is 5-5 at home this year.
It is the 34th meeting in the series with Cumberland holding a 25-8 margin between the two. CU has won seven of the last ten meetings and have a 13-2 advantage in games played in Lebanon.
The teams met in McKenzie on February 5th with Cumberland winning 83-68.
Cumberland came out sharp in the opening half, knocking down shots and capitalizing at the free-throw line to build a 48–26 halftime lead. Bethel struggled to find consistency offensively in the first 20 minutes but regrouped coming out of the locker room with increased energy and defensive intensity.
David Starr led the Wildcats with 23 points, aggressively attacking the basket and converting at the foul line. Chauncey Hughes III followed with 15 points while providing steady leadership on both ends of the floor. Alonzo Rhodes Jr. and Ethan Turner helped anchor the paint as Bethel won the rebounding battle, 41–38.
The Wildcats showed their best stretch after halftime, outscoring Cumberland 42–35 in the second half and cutting the deficit to single digits on several occasions. However, Cumberland answered each push with timely scoring to maintain control down the stretch.
The Wildcats average 78.7 and yield 76.9 points per game. Chauncey Hughes III leads the Cats averaging 15.9 points per game. D J Starr averages 12.6 while Ethan Turner is good for ten points per outing.
Jeff Britt is in 26th season as Head Men's Basketball Coach at Bethel University and his 37th overall at the collegiate level. Coach Britt has compiled a career record of 554-398, placing him 10th among active NAIA Division I coaches in career wins.
Cumberland averages 75.8 and yields 78.4 points per game. Triston Conger leads Cumberland in scoring at 17.5 points per outing. Michael Nowye follows at 12.4 points per game. Zaylin Rowland averages 10.0 points per game.
Eric Evans II is in his third year at CU and is 30-52 with the Phoenix.
Watch:
https://urbanedgenetwork.net/watch/8263
Stats:
https://gocumberlandathletics.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Tickets:
https://gocumberlandathletics.com/sports/2023/7/18/_133341896480479868.aspx