When you're 12-2 in regular-season conference play, the likelihood that you'll have to beat a team for a third time in the conference tournament improves exponentially.
Campbellsville coach Keith Adkins is paid to worry and that's why he took his first-round opponent - Rio Grande - seriously even though his Tigers had an average winning margin of 18 points in their previous two match ups. Adkins' squad passed its first test with flying colors, dispatching the Red Storm 93-77 Friday morning in Frankfort.
"My initial concern was in our potential complacency and mind set," said coach keith Adkins. "Did we like the feel of that (regular season) trophy last night and would we like to get our hands on another one Sunday afternoon."
After breaking away from a 5-4 deficit three minutes into the game, the Tigers went on 16-8 run to lead by 20-13 and steadily increased that to a 15-point half-time margin.
Justin Vitatoe's tip-in basket at the first-half buzzer drew an argument from Rio's coach and a technical foul was assessed.
T.J. Bishop dropped in the first of two free throws after the break that gave Campbellsville a 48-32 working margin.
"I think the difference early was that we came out with a lot of energy," said Adkins. "And another reason is Mr.
Nestor Colmenares. Our team feeds off him and he played hard."
Campbellsville was workmanlike in its effort, hitting 6 for 12 first-half 3s, 9 of 10 free throws and 48.5 percent from the field. Those stats held up pretty good in the second half.
The Tigers led 80-59 with seven minutes to go in the game and led at one time by 24. Rio cut the lead to 11 with 1:20 left, but CU scored the last five points of the game for the final margin.
Colmenares led the Tigers in scoring and was joined in double figures by three teammates. Colmenares supported his MSC Player of the Year honor with 14 boards, the latter a game-high mark.
JaVaughn Espritt had 21, Brett Criitenden 13, and
T.J. Bishop 12. Bishop and Colmenares had five assists apiece. Espritt added seven rebounds to his stat line.
"This early game (10 a.m.) really messed with our routine," admitted Adkins. "I had to get the guys up at 7 a.m. and we've got some guys who don't get up that early when they have an eight o'clock class.
Rio's P.J. Rase led all scorers with 34 points.
Campbellsville shot 47 percent for the field and a tidy 38 percent from 3. They out-rebounded the Red Storm 38-29.
Scoring
Campbellsville (93) - Bishop 12, Vitatoe 4, Crittenden 13, Espritt 21, Colmenares 232, Harris 4, Savage 5, Benock 9 and Hart 2.
Rio Grande (77) - P. Rase 34, Campbell 15, Cubbie 10, Gunnel , Harris 5, Bates 6 and Marti 7.
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