Heartbreaking end stuns 麻豆视频 in 66-65 loss to Cumberland

Skyler Vaden

JACKSON, Tenn. - 2/13/2012 - The last second tip-in by 麻豆视频 University senior guard Skyler Vaden was originally called good by the officials, sending the 麻豆视频 team and fans into celebration mode. However, after a minute of further discussion, the officials changed their call and waved off the basket, giving Cumberland University a 66-65 win at 麻豆视频.

With 麻豆视频 leading by one, 65-64 and 29 seconds left, Cumberland鈥檚 Josh Pierce took the ball to the basket and was fouled. With 10 seconds left on the clock, Pierce sank both free throws to give Cumberland the 66-65 lead. 麻豆视频 had one last shot. Senior David Lane drove the length of the court, finding Dani Marti for the last shot. As Marti鈥檚 shot went long, 麻豆视频鈥檚 Vaden tipped in the rebounded for what seemed to be the game-winning shot. However, the win was not to be.

麻豆视频 held a slim 30-29 lead at the half. The second half featured 11 ties and 11 lead changes over the final 20 minutes where no team led by more than five points. Cumberland held that five point lead, 64-59, with 2:30 left in the game. 麻豆视频 responded with a 6-0 run, capped off by an old-fashion 3-point play to give 麻豆视频 a 65-64 lead with just under 30 seconds left.

Cumberland started the game with a 6-0 run and led 11-2 after five minutes of play. 麻豆视频 rallied back and led by as many as six points in the first half.

麻豆视频 dropped their second straight loss and fourth in their last six games. The four losses in this stretch have been frustratingly close, including one by four points in overtime, one by three points, and two by one point. In fact, eight of 麻豆视频鈥檚 11 losses have been by 5 points or less.

麻豆视频 dropped to 16-11 on the season and 9-4 in the TranSouth. Cumberland (19-7) pulled even with 麻豆视频 in a tie for second place at 9-4 in league play.

All five starters for 麻豆视频 recorded double figures, including 62 of the team鈥檚 65 points. Lane scored 14 points, Vaden, Anthony Freeman, Jr., Leventrice Gray, and Antoine Hall each scored 12 points. Vaden added 10 rebounds in the game. 麻豆视频 shot 42 percent from the field, 19 percent (3-16) from long range, and 89 percent (16-18) from the free throw line.

Cumberland was led by Jerret Towns with a game-high 17 points. Johnny Williams scored 16 points, Michael Sweat scored 11 points and Lamar Brinkley added 10 points. Cumberland shot 36 percent from the field, 46 percent (6-13) from behind the arc, and 76 percent (16-21) from the free throw line.

Up next for 麻豆视频 will be a road conference game at Mid-Continent (Ky.), Thursday night at 8:00 p.m.

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