LEBANON, Tenn. – Telvin Wilkerson netted a team-high 12 points and Alex Flagler and Paul Williams added 11 apiece, but Cumberland fell behind by 17 points in the first half and never recovered, dropping a 67-59 decision at sixth-ranked Freed-Hardeman on Monday in Henderson, Tenn.

The Bulldogs (6-11) made just 2-of-14 with shots from the field and committed six turnovers in the first 11 minutes of the contest, allowing the Lions (14-2) to jump out to a 24-7 advantage. Ben Meis scored eight of the first 10 points of the game for FHU and his third 3-pointer of the half preceded a layup from Cameron Lewis that gave the home team the 17-point advantage with 8:57 left in the opening period.

Cumberland answered with a 13-3 spurt included a tip-in from DeQuan Bond, two free throws and two jumpers by Williams and a layup plus the foul from Alex Flagler. Cameron Prather’s two foul shots with 4:32 left in the half cut the deficit to 27-20, but the Lions increased the lead back to 14 in the closing minutes and led 34-22 at intermission.

The Bulldogs shot just 27 percent from the field in the period compared to 50 percent for FHU, which also made 5-of-12 from behind the arc. CU committed 10 turnovers as well, which turned into 12 points for Freed-Hardeman.

FHU upped its advantage to 43-27 with a pair of 3-pointers from Evan Forhetz in the first five minutes of the second half. Cumberland shaved points off the deficit throughout the period, including a 3-pointer from Wilkerson that made it 49-40 at the midway point.

The Bulldogs trailed by 13 with just under four minutes to play before layups from Bond and Williams and a 3-pointer by Flagler made it 59-53 with 2:16 to play, the closest CU had been since 8-3.

Wilkerson’s 3-pointer and 15-footer for Cumberland within five, the second one with 1:13 remaining, but the comeback ran out of time.
Williams led the Bulldogs with six rebounds and Flagler added four boards and four assists.

Lewis scored a game-high 17 points for the Lions, with Forhetz posting 14 points, six rebounds and eight assists and Meis registering 11 points.

Cumberland gets back into Mid-South Conference action Thursday at 25th-ranked University of the Cumberlands and Saturday at the University of Pikeville.