Box Score PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- In a true Mid-South Conference battle, Campbellsville University and University of Pikeville swapped leads 15 times Thursday night before the defending NAIA champion Bears prevailed 72-71 in the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center.

 

Campbellsville rallied from a five-point, second-half deficit to go up six with three minutes left. Pikeville managed to squeeze out one more lead change though. With eight seconds left, Cordaro Ellis secured a rebound off a missed Trevor Setty free throw and scored the game-winner for the Bears. Reggie Smith's 3-point attempt at the buzzer was no good for Campbellsville.

The loss snapped a five-game win streak for the Tigers, dropping them to 1-3 in the MSC and 11-4 overall. It also marked the second-straight loss in the final seconds in conference play.

"Yes, it was hard fought, but this is very reminiscent of Georgetown," said CU Coach Keith Adkins. "We didn't do what we were supposed to do. When you don't do what you're supposed to do, you don't deserve to win. It's a simple thing. Block out and go get it (the rebound)."

Campbellsville and Pikeville changed leads 11 times in the first half and saw seven ties before UPike carried a 32-29 lead into the half. Trailing 63-59 in the second half, Campbellsville's Justin Ennis hit back-to-back 3s to spark a 10-0 run and give the Tigers a six-point lead. Ennis finished the game with 19 points.

Cedric Henderson was second in scoring for the Tigers with 18 points. He also had 10 rebounds and nine assists to secure his first double-double at CU and narrowly missing a triple-double.

"Every single night we walk out there, he goes out there and does what he's supposed to do," Adkins said of Henderson. "That's why he nearly had a triple-double and why he's one of the best in America."

Setty led all scorers with 21 points, while Andrew Young had 16 and Chris Watson scored 11 for the Bears.

Campbellsville (11-3) will travel to the University of Virginia's College at Wise on Saturday for a 4 p.m. EST game in the Mid-South Conference. The game will be broadcast on WLCU 88.7 FM and wlcufm.com.