Box Score CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -- Turnovers in the final minutes allowed a once 13-point lead slip away, as Campbellsville University fell at home to No. 16 Union University in a non-conference game Monday at Powell Athletic Center.
"This game tonight is not a game that kills you, but it was an opportunity lost," CU head coach Keith Adkins said. "As you approach March, and if one game separates us and a Pikeville or Lindsey Wilson, it'll go to the non-conference schedule to see who goes to Kansas City. A sweep over Union would have been good for us. Starting Thursday are the games you cannot lose. We're now 9-5 and 60 percent of our losses are in our house. That's inexcusable."
Playing at home for the first time in a month, the Tigers returned from a two-week break with a struggle to stop the three-week rested Bulldogs. CU trailed by nine, 21-12, midway through the first half, but chipped away at Union's lead in the final five minutes of the period.
Adrian Whelan came off the bench and hit a 3-pointer for his only points of the game with 4:49 remaining in the half to spark a 10-0 run for Campbellsville that flipped a 27-20 deficit into a 30-27 lead. Union cut the difference to a point, but Shawn Savage sank a buzzer-beating 3 from way beyond the left wing for a 33-29 halftime lead.
Savage's 3 was fuel for the second half, as Campbellsville extended its lead to 13 points out of the break, 42-29. But while the Tigers scored nine unanswered points to start the half, the Bulldogs poured on 50 points in the second half after Shane Burrell took the lid of Union's basket with 11:55 remaining. The post player from Los Angeles dominated the paint with 20 points to lead Union, including 12 in the second half.
"There's nobody in the NAIA who can stop that guy when you let him catch two feet from inside the block," Adkins said of Burrell's ability to score at will in the post. "That's not the (defensive) effort that's going to make us successfully, especially with our limited numbers."
Savage, who led the Tigers with 22 points, helped the Tigers hold their lead late as he unloaded 19 points in the second period. However, Union gained the lead and pulled away late with the help of a trio of Savage turnovers and one from JaVaughn Espritt in the final four minutes. C.J. Davis scored 10 points for Union during that time, as he gave the Bulldogs the lead, 68-67, from the free throw line late.
The Bulldogs hit 7-of-10 from the free throw line in the final minute to secure the win, while Campbellsville struggled from the line in the second half (7-of-16). While the free throws could have put the Tigers in a different situation, Adkins was most displeased with the Tigers' defense.
"We can't trade baskets, and that's what we chose to try to do with the five guys that were out there most of the time. I don't know if its stubbornness or what, but I try to describe before every game and every practice, 'You will not win a shootout,'" Adkins said. "If people get in the 70s, it'll be hard to win, but if we can keep teams in the 60s we have a chance."
Campbellsville (9-5) returns to Mid-South Conference action Thursday to play host to Pikeville College at 8 p.m. The game will be proceeded by a women's game between No. 3 CU and Pikeville at 6 p.m. Both games will be televised by the Wazoo Sports Network and broadcast on K-Country 105.7 FM and KCountry1057.com.
BOX SCORE
SCORING
Union (79) - Burrell 20, McNeil 11, Vaden 8, Hall 7, Davis 13, Joseph 12, Danache 5, Banhoro 3. Totals 27-50 6-17 79.
Tigers (70) - Savage 22, Smith 14, Harris 11, Crittenden 10, Espritt 5, Lopez 5, Whelan 3. Totals 25-66 12-30 70.
Half-time - Campbellsville 33-29.
Three-point goals - Union 6-17 (McNeil 3, Hall 1, Burrell 1, Joseph 1), Campbellsville 12-30 (Savage 5, Smith 3, Crittenden 2, Whelan 1, Lopez 1).
Rebounds - Union 42 (Burrell 16, Joseph 12), Campbellsville 32 (Esprott 8, Smith 7, Crittenden 6, Harris 4, Lopez 3, Bohm 3).
Assists - Union 13 (Burrell 4, Vaden 3), Campbellsville 8 (Harris 3, Savage 2, Espritt 1, Crittenden 1, Lopez 1).
Steals - Union 7 (Vaden 3, Joseph 2), Campbellsville 6 (Harris 2, Savage 1, Smith 1, Espritt 1, Crittenden 1).
