"I could say that this was a big game for us. But, with the hole that we have dug ourselves into, they are all big ones for us," CU head coach Keith Adkins said. "This is one that we really needed. It will be difficult for us to climb back into the hunt in the conference. But, if we are to have any chance, we can't lose another game at home."

After losing six games in the first half of MSC play, including the Dec. 3 matchup at Georgetown, Campbellsville entered the week tied for last place in the confernce. With the win Saturday, Campbellsville (15-7, 4-6 MSC) moves up to sixth-place in the conference standings but only three games back of Georgetown (17-5, 7-3 MSC).

"After the game against the Cumberlands (Ky.) last week, and looking back at the first game against Georgetown, I was really hoping that one would go in our favor. I'm really happy for our guys that this one did. They played so hard and wanted this one so badly.....another one in the opposite direction would have been tough to swallow," Adkins said.

Georgetown jumped out to a 15-6 lead in the first seven minutes, but the nine-point margin proved to be their highest of the night. Then Cedric Henderson took over the game for Campbellsville. Over the next three minutes, Henderson collected four points, three assists, two steals and two defensive rebounds to help the Tigers on an 11-0 run. Justin Ennis capped the run with a 3-pointer to give CU its first lead, 17-15. It was the first of seven 3s for Ennis, who led all scorers with 26 points.

Georgetown managed to tie the game twice in the first half at 17 and 21, but never regained the lead.

Ennis was only getting started. The junior from Houston, Texas led Campbellsville at the half with 14 points, all on 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point range. Two of the 3s were late in the half, setting up Campbellsville's 35-28 halftime lead.

In the second half, Campbellsville locked down on defense to go on a 9-1 run and built a 15-point lead, 44-29. Once the clock ticked below 10 minutes left in the game, Georgetown began to chip into the home Tigers' lead.

Tyrone Shelley, who had the game-winning tip-in last meeting, scored 10 points for Georgetown over a five-minute stretch. His 3-pointer with 5:37 to play cut the deficit within a possession, 59-56. Ennis answered Shelley's 3 with one of his own to insure Campbellsville's lead.

CU stretched its lead back to 10 points, 72-62 with a minute to play, but Georgetown was not going to be put away easily. Deciding to put Campbellsville on the free throw line paid off for the fourth-ranked Tigers, as CU went 7-of-12 from the charity stripe down the stretch. Georgetown 5-of-7 from the floor with its only misses in the final 10 seconds from 3-point range.

After Anthony Carter pulled Georgetown within two on a 3-pointer, 78-76, CU's Reggie Smith knocked down a free throw with 10 seconds remaining to help secure the win.
 

"It seems like all the games with Georgetown are crazy ones, but this has to be among the craziest that I can remember," Adkins said.

"We had several opportunities to put this one away. Give Georgetown credit, though, they answered every big run that we made. We just seemed to get the last break of the game."

Shelley finished the night with a double-double, adding 12 rebounds to go with his team-high 22 points, while Maurice Pearson had 20 points and Jordan Demercy had 10.

Campbellsville had four players score in double figures, as Malik Thomas followed Ennis' lead with 16 points. Henderson finished with 15 points and six assists, while and Smith had 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds.

Thursday, CU travels to the University of Rio Grande (11-11, 2-6 MSC) and Georgetown returns home to host the University of Pikeville (14-7, 6-4 MSC).