JaVaughn Espritt took the opening tip from Nestor Colmenares and quickly gave Campbellsville University a 2-0 lead Saturday, a lead it never gave up, as the Tigers downed visiting Olivet Nazarene University, 79-55, in the final non-conference game of the season. The win ended a five-game win streak for Olivet Nazarene and answered a CU loss on Dec. 5 at ONU, 78-63.

Campbellsville shot 63.6 percent in the first half (14-22) and carried a 38-20 lead into halftime with Espritt and Colmenares leading the way in the post with nine points each.



Coming out of a loss to Union last Saturday, CU head coach Keith Adkins said he was disappointed with his team's defensive attitude and the way it attacked the defensive glass.

"We have to develop a little bit of a nasty attitude on defense," Adkins said after the Jan. 2 loss. "Hopefully we can develop that defensive attitude in the next week or so."

Saturday, the Tigers held its opponent to the second lowest shooting performance of the season, as Olivet shot 38.5 percent (20-of-52) from the field in the game. CU held the visiting Tigers to 26.9 percent in the first half. CU also out rebounded Olivet Nazarene with 23 defensive rebounds to Olivet's 15 offensive boards.

The Tigers took their first 10-point lead of the game with six minutes left in the first half on a jumper by T.J. Bishop, who followed on the next possession with a fast-break lay-up. He finished with nine points.

CU reached its first 20-point lead of the game, 52-30, after Chicago native Caleb Harris hit 3-of-3 from the free throw line with 15:17 to play and finished with 12 points in the game. Bishop later hit a 3-pointer with 11 minutes to play for CU's first 30-point lead on the afternoon, 64-32.

Colmenares finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Espritt had 11 points.

Campbellsville (12-4) opens Mid-South Conference play Thursday night as No. 8 Pikeville College comes to town for an 8 p.m. game. The game will be preceded by a 6 p.m. women's game between No. 10 Campbellsville and Pikeville. Both games will be televised on Comcast Cable Channel 10 and broadcast on the radio at WGRK K-Country, 105.7 FM.


PHOTO GALLERY

BOX SCORE

SHORT BOX
Olivet Nazarene Univ (10-6 NAIA #RV)
Tyler BALDWIN 4-5 0-0 8, Rashad MITCHELL 1-3 2-2 4, Kris IRISH 2-6 0-0 4, Brandon STREETS 2-4 11-14 15, Matt MITCHELL 2-2 0-0 4, Cory HAINLEN 1-5 0-0 2, Nick KLOMSTAD 2-6 0-0 4, Antonio MARSHALL 2-9 0-1 4, Chuck RIDEOUT 0-0 0-0 0, Dustin RENNEWANZ 0-0 0-0 0, Josh BRONKE 0-6 2-2 2, Jordan HARKS 4-6 0-0 8. Totals 20-52 15-19 55

Campbellsville University (12-4 NAIA #RV)
T.J. Bishop 3-6 2-2 9, Caleb Harris 3-5 5-7 12, Shawn Savage 1-5 2-2 5, Adrian Whelan 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan Benock 1-3 0-0 2, Justin Vitatoe 2-4 0-0 5, Joe Robinson 3-6 0-1 6, Leon Hart 1-2 0-0 2, Brett Crittenden 2-3 0-0 5, Jake Gill 0-0 0-0 0, Jonas Bohm 3-5 1-3 7, Nestor Colmenares 7-8 1-1 15, JaVaughn Espritt 4-4 3-4 11. Totals 30-51 14-20 79
 

SCORE BY PERIODS	1st	2nd	TOTAL
Olivet Nazarene Univ	20	35	55
Campbellsville University	38	41	79

FG%: Olivet Nazarene Univ .385, Campbellsville University .588. 3-pt FG:Olivet Nazarene Univ 0-12 (IRISH 0-2, STREETS 0-1, HAINLEN 0-3, KLOMSTAD 0-2, MARSHALL 0-2, BRONKE 0-2), Campbellsville University 5-17 (Bishop 1-4, Harris 1-2, Savage 1-4, Benock 0-2, Vitatoe 1-3, Crittenden 1-2). Rebounds: Olivet Nazarene Univ 27 (TEAM 7), Campbellsville University 33 (Colmenares 9). Fouls Olivet Nazarene Univ 22, Campbellsville University 20. Fouled out: HARKS BALDWIN . Technical: MARSHALL. Assists: Olivet Nazarene Univ 11 (MARSHALL 3), Campbellsville University 19 (Bishop 4, Colmenares 4). Steals: Olivet Nazarene Univ 7 (MARSHALL 3), Campbellsville University 7 (Colmenares 3). Blocked shots: Olivet Nazarene Univ 0, Campbellsville University 0. Turnovers: Olivet Nazarene Univ 18, Campbellsville University 19. Attendance: 250.

Career game No. 1,000 for Olivet Nazarene head coach Ralph Hodge.