Campbellsville (17-5, 2-4 Mid-South Conference) went into the half leading by three, but quickly relinquished its 34-31 advantage as they went scoreless for four minutes early in the second half. From the 15:36 mark on it was a barnburner as the Tigers and the Blue Raiders (19-2, 4-2 MSC) fought it out in the rivalry game.
Andrew Smith dominated the first half scoring 11 points and collecting four boards. It was Shawn Johnson that made the difference in the final minute of the half as he scored the final four points of the period to put Campbellsville on top, 34-31, heading into the break.
With 47 seconds remaining in the first half, Johnson drove to the basket to give the Tigers the lead, 32-31. Smith collected his final first half off a missed shot from Lindsey Wilson’s Ethan Hennis to regain control for Campbellsville. With time winding down, Jacob King dished the ball to Johnson who scored his sixth point of the night, giving the Tigers a three-point lead going into the half.
To start the second half, the Tigers quickly fell subdue to the Blue Raider defense, as Campbellsville scored just three points in the first five minutes of action. Jalen Coates delivered at the 15:22 mark to end the drought and gave the Tigers a 41-39 lead.
After the basket from Coates the game saw five lead changes within five minutes as the Tigers and Blue Raiders battled it out.
With 4:55 left to play, the Blue Raiders claimed their final lead of the game. From that point on the Tigers showed their strength coming out on top against the second-ranked team in the nation.
Campbellsville posted a four-point lead with 1:33 left in regulation and held on without allowing Lindsey Wilson to erase its deficit or tie the game.
Late game fouls by the Blue Raiders allowed the Tigers lead by five with two seconds remaining. In the final minute of the game, Campbellsville hit all four of its free throw attempts – all-coming from Tim Coleman.
The Tigers bench came out strong outscoring the Blue Raiders, 23-2.
Smith and Coleman were the lone Tigers to reach double figures with 17 and 11 points, respectively.
Campbellsville and Lindsey Wilson matched in shooting percentage, hitting 41.9 percent from the floor. The difference came from the free throw line, where the Tigers hit 8-of-11 attempts, while the Blue Raiders made just 3-of-10 on free throws.
Next up, the Tigers continue their three-game road swing at Cumberland University on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Neely Quint
sports information graduate assistant
