Box Score KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Shooting put Campbellsville University in a hole early, and the Tigers were unable to climb out in a 69-57 loss to 10-seed Biola University in the opening round of the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at Municipal Auditorium.



The Tigers shot only 30 percent in the first half, including 2-of-15 from the 3-point arc. The missed shots led to defensive rebounds for Biola, which converted the boards into baskets. Two minutes into the game, the Eagles built an 11-point run and never let Campbellsville regain its lead. Malik Thomas cut the lead to a point, 15-14, to cap a 9-2 Tiger run, but Biola took a 29-20 lead into halftime.

Justin Ennis helped lead a rally in the second half, leading all scorers with 25 points, but CU's 63 percent performance in the final 20 minutes was not enough.

"The bottom line is how poorly we shot. We were only 43 percent from the field, 32 from the 3 and 60 percent from the free throw line. When you do that, there's going to be a tone of defensive rebounds," CU head coach Keith Adkins said. "Let's face it, we're not a very athletic team up front, so there's not going to be a very lot of offensive rebounds. That's the big difference in the game."

Campbellsville snagged only two offensive rebounds, leading to Biola out-rebounding the Tigers, 39 to 20.

The loss was similar to Campbellsville's last appearance in the NAIA Tournament, a 74-61 loss to ninth-seed Fresno Pacific University. In both that game and this one, the Tigers' Mid-South Conference Player of the Year (Nestor Colmenares 2010, Cedric Henderson 2012) faced foul trouble early and did not score in the second half.

Henderson was held scoreless in his final game as a Tiger, while adding four assists and three steals. He played only 10 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble.

"We absolutely this season made some comparisons to Cedric and Nestor. Nestor was a 6-8" post player and Cedric is a 6-foot guard, but as far as what they mean to our team and the influence and impact they have to our game, they're very similar," Adkins said. "Two years ago, we came out here and Nestor was basically a no-show, and today Cedric was a no-show. I hate to call it that, because he's been so valuable. He's poured his heart and soul into this season, but you have to call it like it is. He just didn't play well because of some heath reasons and I think he's just worn out at this point."

Henderson, an All-American candidate, closes his one-year career as a Tiger with 498 points (15.1), 194 assists (5.9), 125 steals (3.8) and 147 rebounds (4.5).

Biola was led by 30 combined points from starting forwards Andre Murilio (16) and Kaimarr Price (14). Zack Zaragoza and Davey Hopkins added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Malik Thomas followed Ennis' lead with 11 points. Ennis tied a CU record in the NAIA Tournament for most 3-point attempts in an NAIA Tournament game, matching the mark set by Justin Ingles in 2007, Bubba Long in 2008 and TJ Bishop in 2010.

Biola (26-8) will play Our Lady of the Lake University (27-7) in the second round of the tournament Friday at 4:30 p.m. CDT.

Campbellsville closes the 2011-12 season with a 21-12 record for its fifth 20-win season and fifth NAIA Tournament trip in seven years.

"It was a good season. I think we fell short of a great season. I think there's a lot more we could have done, but anytime you get your two big-time goals (20 wins and NAIA Tournament appearance), you have to be a little happy," Adkins said.

"I think we're at the point in our program where we need to adjust those a little bit and actually make them a little more challenging. Not that 20 wins and a trip out here isn't challenging, but I think we're capable of a lot more. I thought we were capable of more today."

Compete coverage of CU in the tournament can be found here.

BOX SCORE