MONTGOMERY, W.Va. – A late Campbellsville University rally stalled Saturday due to strong free throw shooting by West Virginia University Tech, as the Golden Bears went on to beat the Tigers, 95-84.

Campbellsville trailed by 20 early in the first half before Justin Ennis hit two 3s to help cut the deficit to 11, 60-49, with 10 minutes left to play. The Tigers went on to whittle the deficit down to seven after a steal by Bryton Taylor set up an and-one play for Addison Smith with 58 seconds left to pull within seven, 85-78.

The Golden Bears hit 12-of-12 from the charity stripe though in the final minute and half and finished the game 30-of-33 (90.9 percent) from the free throw line.

In the first half, Chris Smith and Vernon Payne gave the Tigers a 4-0 lead in the first two minutes and went on to take a five-point lead, 13-8, on a 3-pointer by Darius Clement with 13 minutes left in the half. That would be the largest lead of the game for the Tigers as Tech began to pull away. Payne hit a 3 to pull CU within a point, 23-22, but never got closer as a Payne technical foul led to two free throws and helped the Bears go on an 18-8 run to close the half up 41-30.

Payne did not return to the court in the second half, finishing with 15 points for the Tigers. Justin Ennis scored 18 in the second half and finished with a team-high 20 points, while Addison Smith had 11.

David Rawlinson led Tech with 28 points, scoring 23 in the second half alone. Kornilous Donnell followed with 14 in the second half and 20 in the game. Jaren Marino also scored 20 and Terrale Clark with finish with 19 points after both scored 10 points each in the first half.

Campbellsville (12-8, 6-5 MSC) will return home Thursday, Jan. 31 for an 8 p.m. tipoff  against No. 24 Shawnee State University.

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