Box Score PORTSMOUTH, Ohio - Trailing by as many as eight in the first half, Campbellsville University switched its defense and chipped away at the Shawnee State University Bears en route to a 69-58 win in Mid-South Conference action Thursday.



The Tigers overcame a 29-21 deficit with five minutes to play in the opening period to cut the lead to four, 33-29, at halftime. With nine minutes to play in the game, Caleb Harris hit a layup to tie the game, 46-46, and from there on, it was all Campbellsville. CU went on a 7-0 run to jump ahead 53-46, and while Shawnee managed to work the difference back within a basket, the Tigers never looked back in their double-digit road win.

"It was an unconventional win for us in a lot of ways," CU head coach Keith Adkins said. "We won by double figures on the road in conference and didn't shoot the ball that well (38.1 percent from the field, 17.9 percent from 3). For us to win on the road and shoot that poorly is a feat of itself. We also played about three quarters of the game in zone defense."

In addition to the Tigers' zone defense, which held Shawnee to 27 percent from 3-point range, CU benefited from 20 Bear turnovers. Campbellsville collected eight assists and had only eight turnovers.

Reggie Smith led CU with 18 points, while JaVaughn Espritt collected a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Harris also scored 15.

Ori Harrison led all scorers with 21 points for Shawnee State, while Tyler Boyles and Tyler Morgan scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The win is the Tigers' fourth-straight over Shawnee State and marks the first MSC sweep this season as the second half of the MSC schedule gets underway.

Campbellsville (12-8, 5-4 MSC) travels to Georgetown, Ky., Saturday at 4 p.m. to take on No. 7 Georgetown College (20-2, 9-1 MSC) for the third time this season. The game will be broadcast on K-Country 105.7 FM in Central Kentucky and online at KCountry1057.com.