NEW ALBANY, Ind. – The IU Southeast men's basketball team fell to No. 9 Cumberlands 76-68 on Monday.
 
Cumberlands got off to a blistering start, jumping out to a 12-2 lead less than three minutes into the game. The Patriots continued their offensive onslaught, building up a 39-15 lead halfway through the first half.
 
IU Southeast fought back to cut the lead to 16 at 41-25, but Cumberlands took a 52-31 lead into halftime.
 
The Grenadiers opened the second half on a 13-2 run to cut the Cumberlands lead to 54-44. IU Southeast narrowed their deficit to six at 56-50.
 
Cumberlands hit a pair of free throws to make it 58-50, but a three brought IU Southeast within five at 58-53.
 
The Patriots extended their lead back to 11 at 69-58, but back-to-back threes brought IU Southeast back within five at 69-64 with 4:33 left.
 
Cumberlands hit a three with 1:59 left to take a 74-66 lead. IU Southeast did not get back within six points for the remainder of the game as Cumberlands escaped with a 76-68 victory.
 
Trent Hinkle led IU Southeast with 18 points and three assists. Camden Pfeister added 16 points and five rebounds. Bailey Temming had a double-double off the bench with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
 
"Unfortunately, I knew we would have the start we had," IU Southeast head coach Wiley Brown said. "We had two bad practices after Thanksgiving, and Cumberlands came in and punched us in the mouth in the first half. Just like in practice, we had no energy in the game, and that's unacceptable against a top 10 team. Energy is extremely important to me as a head coach because that's something you as a player have control of. Fortunately, the game was not won in the first half. We came out in the second half and played with energy and passion, but we couldn't get the stops we needed or hit the shots we needed. Back to the lab!"
 
IU Southeast drops to 5-3 on the year. The Grenadiers open RSC play on Saturday with a home contest against IU Kokomo.