Men's Basketball vs University of Rio Grande (Ohio) on 11/12/2026 - Cumberlands Athletics

University of the Cumberlands men’s basketball team faced the University of Rio Grande in a matchup that saw the lead fluctuate during the second half.

The Second-Half Battle

Action picked up at the 20:00 mark with a substitution as Trey Johnson checked in for Tanner Walton for Cumberlands. Caleb Schmelzer missed an early layup for Rio Grande, but Javecckio Thomas grabbed the defensive board and quickly answered with a layup in the paint, shifting the score to 38-37 in favor of Cumberlands.

Brody Buchanan hit a three-pointer at 17:49 with an assist from Schmelzer, giving Rio Grande a 41-37 lead. Landon Brewer followed with a fastbreak layup in the paint assisted by Buchanan at 17:30, pushing the margin to 43-37 before Johnson countered with a jumper in the paint for Cumberlands to make it 43-39.

Maintaining the Margin

Brewer struck again from beyond the arc at 16:44 off a pass from Parker Penrod, putting Rio Grande ahead 46-39. Tajahri Cave answered with a paint layup for Cumberlands to cut the deficit to 46-41.

Rio Grande vs Cumberlands University Mens Basketball 2026 — USA Athletic Basketball

Schmelzer added a jumper at 15:31 to make it 48-41, though Johnson kept the pressure on with another paint basket at 15:09, trimming the lead to 48-43.

Taron Benton sank a paint layup at 14:37 to push Rio Grande ahead 50-43, but Julian Miles answered with a three-pointer at 14:27, bringing Cumberlands within 50-46. Brewer answered with his own three-pointer at 13:54 off a Schmelzer assist to stretch the advantage to 53-46.

Closing Minutes

Schmelzer struck from deep at 13:26 to push the lead to 56-46. Following a 30-second timeout by the team, Abraham Ibezimakor scored inside at 13:07 off a feed from Miles to make it 56-48.

Schmelzer added another three-pointer at 12:21, assisted by Penrod, making it 59-48. Cave hit one of two free throws at 11:21 to make it 59-49, and Penrod followed with a paint layup at 11:08 to bring the score to 61-49.

Malachi Robinson converted a layup in the paint at 10:55 to narrow the gap to 61-51, and Caden Windle answered with a paint basket at 10:25, extending the lead to 63-51 as the second half continued.