CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -- Campbellsville University was unable to close out a once 11-point lead Friday as it slipped in overtime to Martin Methodist College, 67-64, on day one of the 13th annual Lou Cunningham Classic. The loss is the first non-conference loss this season for the Tigers, ranked No. 18 in the NAIA, and the fourth all-time in the Lou Cunningham Classic.

Martin Methodist led only once in the game, but that lead came with 34 seconds remaining in overtime. Demario Williams hit the eventual game-winning 3 off an assist from Justin Blake and the Tigers were unable to bounce back. CU missed on the other end with eight seconds remaining and had one last heave with .04 seconds remaining.

MMC, now 6-5, moves above .500 for the first time this season after being ranked No. 22 in the preseason coaches' poll. The RedHawks' first win in the Lou Cunningham Classic is their fifth in the last six games.

Campbellsville senior guard Justin Ennis started the night with a 3 pointer and CU never let go of its lead during regulation. CU quickly grew its lead to 7-1 on a Darius Clement put back. However, Martin Methodist kept the game close, working the score within a point, 15-14, with Josh Watson hitting his second 3-pointer of the night with 8:10 to go in the first half. Campbellsville responded with a 9-3 run, as Ennis' 3 worked the Tigers into a three-possession lead for the first time in the game. Jordan Myers closed the half with a 3, stretching the Tigers lead to 29-21 at halftime.

The Tigers entered the lockerroom shooting 47.8 percent from the floor, while holding Martin Methodist to 20 percent. However, the RedHawks were getting a second chance nearly one out of every three shots.

In the second half, Campbellsville worked its lead 13 points, 37-24, in the first two minutes and kept it a three-to-four possession game for the first six minutes of the period. The RedHawks went on a run though, as Antonio Coleman and Watson combined for a 9-0 run to pull within two points, 37-35. Watson and Coleman led the way with 19 and 14 points, respectively, in the game for MMC.

CU responded to the run with a 6-0 run of its own, working the lead back to eight, 43-35, but the RedHawks continued to fight.

Blake hit a 3 with just under four minutes to play in the second half to pull MMC within two and Davie Champagnie followed with a basket to tie the game for the first time all night, 52-52. Myers broke the second tie of the night with a 3-pointer, 57-54, but CU was not able to pull away enough of a margin for the win, as Addison Smith was 1-of-2 from the charity stripe in the final two minutes.

Martin Methodist tied the game, 58-58, with a minute remaining and had two looks at a winning shot in the final seconds before forcing overtime.

In extra time, Ennis started things off with four straight points for the Tigers, but CU managed only one more basket in the five minute period, as MMC stole the road win.

Ennis finished the night with a game-high 23 points, while Myers had 13. MMC also had double-figure scoring from Blake and Williams, who scored 12 and 11, respectively.

CU won the team rebounding battle, 40-36, but the RedHawks finished the game with 17 offensive rebounds to only 10 offensive boards for the Tigers. MMC improved its shooting in the seond half, hitting 45 percent from the floor in the final 25 minutes of play. Robert Morris lost Friday to No. 8 Lindsey Wilson College, 78-68.


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Campbellsville (7-3) will return to action Saturday, Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. EST, as it hosts Robert Morris University (4-6) in the final game of the classic. The two have met only once in program history, a 73-71 RMU victory in the 2009 Mid-South Conference Challenge in Frankfort, Ky., on Black Friday.