JOLIET, Ill. -- A season-best .587 shooting mark from the field (27-of-46) and .556 percentage from behind the arc (12-of-23) boosted the University of St. Francis men's basketball team to a 76-65 victory over Cumberland University (Tenn.) to close out Day 2 of the USF Thanksgiving Classic on Sunday afternoon.  With the win, St. Francis extends its overall record and unbeaten streak to 5-0.

St. Francis' 12 three pointers was a season-high mark, leading the Saints to having 10 players reach the scoring column on the day.  Topping the list for the second game in a row was Merrick Small, who went 8-for-11 from the field as well as 5-for-10 from the charity stripe for a combined 21 points.  Coleton Hansen (10 points), Greyson Harrington (8) and Delshawn Simms (7) each sank two three-pointers apiece in recording a combined 25 points, while Joffrey Nunnally sank three treys on his way to registering 14 points for USF.

After Cumberland (6-3) connected for the game's first basket to start the first half, the contest saw its only lead change 20 seconds later when Nunnally drilled a deep three-pointer to give the Saints the advantage for good.  Nunnally's bucket would be the start of an explosive 18-4 scoring run for St. Francis over the game's next six minutes which would push the Saints in front by double-digits (18-6) by the 13-minute mark.  That double-digit cushion would hold - and expand to as high as 17 - throughout the half until a Cumberland layup with 30 remaining would cut the scoring margin to a nine-point differential at 38-29.  USF expanded its lead back to 10, however, after a successful free throw in the frame's final seconds marked the half time score at 39-29.

The Saints continued their offensive pressure to begin the second half, scoring five points in less than a minute after the break.  A three-pointer by Simms at 6:54 put the Saints up by 14 before an 8-0 run from the Phoenix allowed the guests to cut the score to 64-58 and come within six points with just four minutes to go.  Nunnally and Small would take things from there, with the two men combining for USF's final 12 points while holding the Phoenix to six to secure the 11-point win at 76-65.

As a team, the Saints out-boarded Cumberland 34-31.  Connor Casper and Dakoda Joachim joined Damarcies Moore in pulling down four rebounds apiece, while Small led the team with his six boards.

Triston Conger led the Phoenix with his 22 markers, while Nichael Mwoye took credit for a game-high 10 rebounds.

Up Next
The Saints have the next two days off before traveling to Eureka, Ill. on Wednesday (Dec. 3) to take on Eureka College in a non-Conference matchup.  The contest will begin at 7:30 pm in the Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena.

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.