Box Score CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -- Two points with one second to play in overtime kept Saturday from being Upset Saturday in the Mid-South Conference. After top-seed Georgetown College was knocked off on the road earlier in the day, Campbellsville University was in position to top No. 22 St. Catharine in Powell Athletic Center. However, the Patriots rallied to win in overtime 78-76.
After sitting even, 32-32, at the half and 69-69 at the end of regulation, St. Catharine edged the Tigers with a last second tip-in on the offensive glass by Antoine Watson. Campbellsville was left with 0.8 seconds on the clock. Brett Crittenden heaved a full-court pass to JaVaughn Espritt, who had a buzzer-beater try bounce off the back of the iron to end the game.
The tip-in was the Patriots' 53rd rebound of the game, compared to only 29 by the Tigers. The rebound margin was the one down point for the Tigers, according to CU head coach Keith Adkins.
"Rebounding was definitely the key," Adkins said. "You can point your finger at that last offensive rebound and put back, and that was the dagger, but it was 45 minutes of offensive rebounds for them," Adkins said. "We've got to gang rebound and get someone to the glass."
Campbellsville took a 13-11 lead seven minutes into the game and worked it up to as many as eight points, 19-11, midway through the first half. The Tigers maintained their lead until the 13 minute mark of the second half.
Kashiff Carr, who led all scorers with 27 points, gave the Patriots their first lead of the second half, 48-47, with a pair of free throws. St. Catharine expanded the lead to five on three occasions, including 69-64 with just under two minutes to play, but the Tigers didn't fold.
Caleb Harris pulled CU closer, 69-66, with a pair of free throws and led CU with 23 points. The Tigers forced a turnover and responded with a 3 in the corner by Brett Crittenden to even the score, 69-69 with 10 seconds to play in regulation.
In overtime, Crittenden tied the game again, 76-76 by hitting 1-of-2 free throws before Watson gave the Patriots the lead.
"There's really nothing you can ask our team to do that we didn't do. I thought the effort and execution were good. Our guys left it on the floor tonight. Give our guys some credit. We hung in there and fought through adversity and fatigue," CU head coach Keith Adkins said. "It just didn't happen for us. We didn't get a break here and there and they did. We just need to pat ourselves on the back for the effort and be better next time, and I think we will."
Campbellsville (15-13) fall to an even 8-8 in Mid-South Conference play. While still in sixth-place, the Tigers are two games back of fifth-place Lindsey Wilson College, which upset Georgetown College Saturday. CU will host Lindsey Wilson on Thursday for an 8 p.m. ET game in Powell Athletic Center (201 Tiger Way, Campbellsville).
The game will be televised on WLCU Comcast Channel 10 in Campbellsville with live video available at CampbellsvilleTigers.com. Live audio can be heard around Central Kentucky on K-Country 105.7 FM and online at KCountry1057.com.
STAT SUMMARY
St. Catharine (78) - Carr 27, Watson 13, B. Johnson 12, Williams 11, Withers 6, Keeling 5, Lee 4. 31-73 12-19 78.
Tigers (76) - Harris 23, Savage 18, Espritt 11, Smith 10, Crittenden 9, Lopez 2, Bohm 2, Whelan 1. 22-54 25-36 76.
Halftime - Tied 32-32
Three-Pointers - St. Catharine 4-21 (Johnson 2, Williams 1, Withers 1), Campbellsville 7-23 (Savage 3, Smith 2, Crittenden 2).
Rebounds - St. Catharine 53 (Williams 12, Carr 10, Watson 10), Campbellsville 23 (Espritt 6, Crittenden 6).
Assists - St. Catharine 9 (Decker 4), Campbellsville 11 (Savage 4, Crittenden 3).
Steals - St. Catharine 3, Campbellsville 6 (Espritt 3).
Blocked shots - St. Catharine 2 (Williams 2), Campbellsville 6 (Espritt 3)
