WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (Interstat) — Cumberlands defeated Johnson 71-64 in a men’s NAIA basketball game on Tuesday at O.Wayne Rollins Center. The Patriots remained unbeaten at 5-0, while the Royals dropped to 1-2. Cumberlands, the home team, leaned on a 43-35 rebounding advantage, a 17-7 edge on the offensive glass and a 20-of-31 performance at the free-throw line. Johnson, the visiting Royals, got a game-high 28 points from Davon Cottle, but the Patriots answered with timely interior scoring and made enough plays down the stretch to protect the home floor.

Abraham Ibezimakor led Cumberlands with 14 points, 15 rebounds and one assist in 17 minutes, doing most of his work around the basket. Malachi Robinson added eight points, five rebounds and two blocks in 26 minutes. Tanner Walton, a forward, contributed nine points and six rebounds in 28 minutes. Brant Smithers scored 13 points with two rebounds in 30 minutes, Trey Johnson had 11 points, five rebounds and one block in 24 minutes, and Javecckio Thomas finished with eight points, five rebounds and one assist in 22 minutes.

Cottle paced Johnson with 28 points, four rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes. Mateu Escamilla Martin posted 16 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes. Jayme Peay added six points, eight rebounds, one assist and two blocks in 25 minutes. Aliou Diallo had five points, five rebounds and five assists in 35 minutes. The Royals shot 24 of 55 from the floor, 6 of 19 from three-point range and 10 of 14 from the free-throw line while playing 69 possessions.

Cumberlands shot 24 of 65 from the field, 3 of 18 from beyond the arc and 20 of 31 from the line. The Patriots had 43 total rebounds, 17 offensive rebounds, four assists, three blocks, nine turnovers and 12 fouls. Johnson had 35 total rebounds, seven offensive rebounds, six assists, three blocks, 14 turnovers and 20 fouls. Johnson finished with an offensive rating of 93.2, while Cumberlands posted an offensive rating of 99.0. The Patriots made only three 3-pointers but attempted 17 more free throws than Johnson.

The most important stretch came in the opening half, when Johnson tried to dictate tempo behind Cottle’s early 3-pointer and three consecutive layups from Escamilla Martin. Cumberlands responded with Javecckio Thomas’ layup, a Brant Smithers free throw and Abraham Ibezimakor’s layup. Aliou Diallo hit a 3-pointer for Johnson, and Cottle added a free throw, but Cumberlands kept answering through Malachi Robinson, Ibezimakor and Trey Johnson. Johnson received a dunk from Dallas Carbaugh and a layup from Da’Shaun Stigler, while Cumberlands countered with Smithers’ 3-pointer and Tanner Walton’s free throws. In the second quarter, Cottle’s shot-making kept Johnson within reach with multiple 3-pointers and layups, but Cumberlands repeatedly answered with Ibezimakor’s paint touches, Trey Johnson’s drives and Smithers’ shooting. Javecckio Thomas also delivered a dunk and later converted free throws, while Jhamien Smith and Geo Hyppolite-Jean contributed points in a back-and-forth stretch. Cumberlands also got second-quarter layups from Ibezimakor and Trey Johnson, while Smith made four free throws and Julian Miles added a layup. Johnson answered with a Geo Hyppolite-Jean layup and free throw, and Cottle continued to attack with 3-pointers and drives. Javecckio Thomas converted a three-point play and later made two free throws, and Smithers hit a 3-pointer for Cumberlands. Cumberlands matched Johnson’s runs with free throws and second-chance opportunities through the half.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Cumberlands 82, Johnson 81, and its ELO system had given Cumberlands a 90.5 percent probability to win.