NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Cumberland University started 0-for-10 from the floor, trailing Fisk University by 10 points before the Bulldogs scored their first point Thursday night at Henderson Gymnasium, but CU came back to roll over the host, 61-47.

Walter Simon led CU with 15 points, while Lamar Brinkley posted 15 points and Graciano Negron added 11.

Cumberland (10-9) failed to score for almost six minutes to start the contest before Brinkley put CU on the board with a tip in.

The visiting Bulldogs remained 10 points back with 8:46 left in the half before Simon started an 11-0 run with a put back of his own. Cumberland’s first lead of the game came three minutes later when Simon scored the last of his seven first-half points.

The lead was short-lived as Fisk scored on a fastbreak dunk eight seconds later. After a turnover and a drive, Cumberland stayed on top for good. Lindal Yarbrough swiped the ball and took it the length of the floor and the senior completed the three-point play.

CU closed the half on a 21-5 run, taking a 27-21 lead into the locker room.

Cumberland stayed hot to start the second half, scoring 13 of the first 16 points. CU held Fisk to just one field goal in the first 11:10 of the period and kept a double-digit lead for most of the half, leading by as many as 16 points.

CU was 7-of-9 from the charity stripe in the second half, while Fisk missed eight of their 18

The visitors shot just 35.6 percent in the win, including a mere 25 percent in the first half. Cumberland outrebounded the home team 50-27.

The Bulldogs jump back into TranSouth Conference play Saturday, when Mid-Continent University visits the Dallas Floyd Recreation Center.