Box Score COLUMBIA, Ky. - Campbellsville University held close but was unable to close the gap Thursday in a 77-68 loss to No. 8 Lindsey Wilson College for the NAIA Game of the Week.
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"We didn't do very well in any facet of the game. We knew coming in how good Lindsey Wilson was in the half court and we needed to execute. We didn't," said Keith Adkins, CU head coach.
The loss is the second half of the Mid-South Conference for the Tigers, now 8-7 in MSC action and in a tie for the No. 4 seed in next week's MSC Tournament. Lindsey Wilson secured at least a share of the regular season MSC championship, improving to 11-4 in conference.
The Blue Raiders jumped out to a 9-3 lead to start the game and maintained throughout the game. Campbellsville cut the margin to two points numerous times in the first 10 minutes, including 18-16 with 9:53 left to play. That's the same point in the game that Tiger point guard
Cedric Henderson went to the bench with his second offensive foul. With Henderson on the bench, the Blue Raiders built their largest lead of the half, 29-20.
The Tigers went to work without their floor general to keep the game within five at the break, 43-38, with
Jonas Bohm scoring CU's last six points in the final two minutes of the half. He finished with nine in the half and 16 in the game.
Henderson opened the second half with an offensive put-back to pull CU within three, 43-40, but Lindsey Wilson scored nine of the next 11 points to build its only double-figure lead of the night, 52-42.
"When we weathered the storm in the first half with Ced out, I really thought we'd be OK only down five to start the second half. But we never seemed to turn the corner. We stayed in that groove and that's not what you can do if you want to win," Adkins said.
A power move by Bohm with 7:14 to play cut the margin back to five, 60-55, for the first time in a while after he blocked a shot on defense.
Justin Ennis worked CU back to within a basket, 66-63, with four minutes to play but missed a three that would have later closed the gap to two. Kalen Kimberland answered the missed opportunity with a 3 on the other end to secure Lindsey's lead. The Blue Raiders hit 6-of-8 free throws in the final minute.
Ennis led CU with 21, but Kimberland countered with 26 to lead LWC off the bench.
Campbellsville (20-9, 8-7 MSC) will now travel to the University of the Cumberlands Saturday for a crucial regular season finale. CU enters the game tied for No. 4 in the MSC standings with Cumberlands and the University of Pikeville.
"This game tonight was not do-or-die. It was not a must-win game. Saturday is." Adkins said. "It will take better effort, better execution and better application. You have to execute your offense and make good shots and on the defensive end you have to apply your scouting report. We didn't have that tonight, and how are you going to win against really good teams."
Tipoff Saturday is 4 p.m. at the Wayne Rollins Center in Williamsburg, Ky. The game will be broadcast live on WLCU 88.7 FM and
wlcufm.com.
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STAT SUMMARY
Tigers (68) - Smith 8, Bohm 11, Henderson 16, Ennis 21, Thomas 4, Bobson 2, Myers 6. Totals 27-59 12-19 68.
Lindsey Wilson (77) -Hanspard 7, Spreen 13, Baker 7, Archer 4, Cox 11, Kimberland 26, Ballou 2, White 7. Totals 24-46 25-34 77.
Half-time - Lindsey Wilson 43-38.
Three-point goals - Campbellsville 2-15 (Ennis 2), Lindsey Wilson 6-13 (Kimberland 3, Cox 2, Baker 1).
Rebounds - Campbellsville 35 (Bohm 7, Smith 6, Henderson 6, Thomas 4, Bobson 4, Myers 4), Lindsey Wilson 33 (Baker 10, Archie 5, Spreen 4).
Assists - Campbellsville 9 (Smith 3, Ennis 3, Henderson 2, Myers 1), Lindsey Wilson 13 (Archie 7, Hanspard 3, Kimberland 2, Baker 1).
Steals - Campbellsville 4 (Henderson 3, Ennis 1), Lindsey Wilson 5 (Kimberland 2, Hanspard 1, Baker 1, Ballou 1).
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