Cumberland men drop TSC opener

It appears Cumberland's improved men still have a ways to go to return to the TranSouth Conference elite.
League-favorite Union opened the conference schedule Thursday night with a 74-56 victory over the host Bulldogs at the Dallas Floyd Center.
The 12th-ranked visitors from Jackson led from the beginning, including 42-29 at halftime, to improve to 8-3. Union shot .586 from the floor in the first half while Cumberland was held to .323 for the game in falling to 8-4.
Brian Lake fired in four three-pointers as he led Union with 22 points and eight rebounds. Pierry Valmera scored 17 while Mack Bealin finished with 14.
Thomas Douglas finished with 15 points to pace Cumberland. Joseph Northington and Maurice Johnson each notched nine points while Desmond Rhodes scored six, Aurimas Silys five and Channing Tucker, Jason Langelier and Chase Burnett four each.
Silys secured seven rebounds for Cumberland, which lost the battle of the boards 45-31.
Cumberland will bus to West Tennessee for a 4 p.m. conference contest in Henderson against Freed-Hardeman on Saturday.