Box Score CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -- Defense has been the central theme of Campbellsville University head coach Keith Adkins' sermon all week, mainly to hold opponents below 65 points. That's exactly what happened in Monday's Mid-South Conference makeup game, as the Tigers held University of Virginia's College at Wise to its lowest offensive production of the season in a 74-55 home win at Powell Athletic Center. It's the 20^th win all-time against the first-year Mid-South Conference member.

"That has to be our main focus. That has to be what drives our basketball team," CU head coach Keith Adkins said of CU's defense. "I think you can look at their shooting, 29 percent from the field and 16 percent from 3, as to why we won. Defensive, is where it's at."

The Tigers trailed by a possession for the first three and a half minutes, but once Brett Crittenden gave CU a 9-8 lead at the free throw line, Campbellsville didn't look back.

Reggie Smith scored eight of the Tigers' next 10 points in a 10-4 run that built the lead to seven, 19-12. While Wise chipped the score back within a basket, 19-17, Campbellsville rolled forward with a 15-2 run. Smith, who finished with a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds, gave CU its largest lead at 34-19 to cap the run. The Cavs once again tried to pull close, but CU contest shot after shot until it was up by double-figures again, this time 39-29, on a 3-pointer by Adrian Whelan in the final minute. The Tigers led at the half 41-29.

Virginia-Wise came out of the intermission on a 6-1 run to cut the lead to five, 42-37, but CU responded with a 7-1 run to reach double-figures for good on an old-fashioned 3-point play by Caleb Harris off an assist from Whelan.

"Adrian has given us a really big lift of late, and I thought he was big in the second half as well," Adkins said.

For the final 12 minutes, Campbellsville maintained its two-digit lead, with Ever Lopez stretching the lead to 20, 67-47, with a 3-pointer at the five-minute mark. CU's largest lead of the night was 21, twice, but Wise was unable to get closer than 16 points.

The win is Campbellsville's 20^th against Wise in program history and keeps CU one-game out of first-place in the MSC standings after a Georgetown College loss at Shawnee State University on Saturday.

"I could say it's going to get crazy, but it's already gotten crazy. Georgetown loss at Shawnee State, West Virginia Tech went on the road and won at Cumberlands. That's proof that this conference, from top to bottom, is really, really good. You can't take anything for granted," Adkins said.

Campbellsville (10-6, 4-2 MSC) will host Life University of Marietta, Ga., on Thursday at 7 p.m. before traveling to No. 8 St. Catharine College for a 4 p.m. tip Saturday.

"It gets really tough from here. Life is a good matchup for us. Hopefully our guys can find it within themselves to come out with a little bit of vengeance. Win or loss, that game won't affect us much, so we'll use it as a game to prepare for St. Catharine … We'll try to see where we stand against a really talented team and prepare for that game on Saturday as well."