Box Score CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Tiger basketball equaled its best start of the Keith Adkins era Monday night. Campbellsville University rallied back from a 12-point deficit to beat Union University for the second time this season, 85-80. The win was Campbellsville's fifth-straight and improved the Tigers to 11-3 for the first time since December 2009.

CU beat a higher-ranked Union team on the road each of the last three Novembers, but this time, the Tigers were able to come out on top when the Bulldogs made the return trip in January.
 

"Neither team could protect their home court (the last two years), and it didn't look like we could tonight. Things weren't going right, but give it to our guys. They didn't give up and were able to get a sweep over a team that I personally believe will end up in Kansas City," said Adkins.

The Tigers twice held a small lead in the first seven minutes of the game, but the Bulldogs could not miss from the floor, as they built a 42-30 lead with five minutes left in the opening half. David Lane, who led Union with 23 points in the game, snapped a 21-21 tie with one of his four 3-pointers and scored 18 points off the bench in the first half.

Campbellsville chipped away at the first half margin, pulling within five at the half, 51-46. Campbellsville pulled within two points in the opening three minutes, 55-53, but it took another two minutes before Malik Thomas gave CU its first lead of the second half, 56-55. Union once again built a lead, going up by eight, 67-59, before Campbellsville rallied back once more. Cedric Henderson, who missed CU's Dec. 30 game due to injury, came up with a steal and dunk with 3:11 remaining to pull within one, 77-76. The play seemed to be the igniting play for CU's final push.

"When we were struggling (Cedric) was at about 70 percent (healthy), and when things got going and he got loose, I'd say he was close to 100 percent," Adkins said. "That dunk was an athletic play. You can't make that dunk unless you're 100 percent healthy."

After Jordan Myers hit a pair of free throws to regain a Tiger lead, 78-77, Union answered but Tiger redshirt junior Kevin Bobson made sure the Bulldogs would not gain momentum. Bobson drained his second 3-pointer of the game from the top of the arc for an 81-79 Tiger lead. Henderson and Reggie Smith both hit a pair of free throws in the final minute to secure Campbellsville's win.

Henderson finished the night with 21 points, eight assists and seven steals after scoring only four points in the first half. Myers and Thomas had 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Smith and Bobson each had 10. Union's Antoine Hall was the other double-figure scorer, following Lane's game-high with 22 points.

Adkins credits his players' attitude, effort and emphasis on defense for the second-half turnaround.

"In the first half, we didn't approach the defensive end with any urgency whatsoever. We were hoping they would miss shots, but we have to dictate whether people miss shots or not," Adkins said. "The second half, we weren't perfect, but we were energized. Other than a couple of loose balls, I thought we approached the second half with urgency. The games that we can win without emotion and energy are gone. There are no opponents we can beat if we don't play with energy and emotion."

Campbellsville (11-3, 1-2 MSC) will return to action Thursday, Jan. 5 with a trip to Pikeville, Ky., to challenge the defending NAIA national champion Pikeville Bears. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, as Mid-South Conference play resumes. The Tigers return home Monday, Jan. 9 to host Olivet Nazarene University in a non-conference game.


BOX SCORE