PIKEVILLE, Ky. – The University of the Cumberlands defeated Campbellsville University, 73-63, in the first semi-final of the 2008 Community Trust Bank Mid-South Conference Men's Basketball Tournament tonight at the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center.
With the win, the Patriots (19-12) move into tomorrow's championship game and will face the winner of the Georgetown-Pikeville game. Game-time for Monday is scheduled for 1:30 PM.
The first-half was a back and forth battle between the two teams, with neither team able to build a lead bigger than five points. The Cumberlands would eventually take a slim 33-32 lead at the half.
The Patriots held a five point lead at the midway point of the second-half (50-45), but the Tigers would use a 6-2 spurt to cut the lead to 52-51 with 8:24 remaining. But the Patriots would score on their very next possession, and were able to hang on down the stretch, hitting several key foul shots to secure their place in the finals.
Chad Byron led the Patriots with 21 points, including a perfect 5 of 5 from beyond the arc. Terrance Asmond and Josh Phillips chipped in 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Nestor Colmaneres and
Kyle Martin each hit for 20 points to pace Campbellsville.
Bubba Long added 16 points.
Campbellsville (24-9) will still continue on to the NAIA National Tournament beginning March 19 in Kansas City, MO, thanks to a win today by Mountain State University in the NAIA Independent Tournament. The official announcement of the opponent and game time will be made on Wednesday afternoon.
