CHICAGO, Ill. – Ten lead changes and three ties in the first half provided hope to both teams for victory, but Campbellsville University was unable to overcome host Robert Morris University in a 76-63 loss at the Attack Center Tuesday night.

The Tigers, which started the day ranked No. 20 in the NAIA, dropped out of the rankings prior to tipoff and dropped their third game in six days after a long Christmas break.

CU struck first on the road with a basket by Vernon Payne to go up 2-0, but the game was give-take for the first 20 minutes. The Tigers led six times in the first half. In the first eight minutes of play, the largest lead of the game was three points, 7-4, by Robert Morris, but the Eagles eventually used an 11-4 run to work the lead to as many as seven, 24-17, midway through the first half.

Campbellsville quickly closed within a basket after a 3 from Justin Ennis, layup by Malik Thomas and jumper from Darius Clement. While the Eagles maintained the lead, the Tigers were within striking distance. As time was winding down to close the half, Jordan Myers hit a layup give the Tigers a 39-38 entering halftime. But that would be the Tigers' last.

An early foul in the second half by Vernon Payne put RMU's Anthony Shoemaker at the line, where he sank two free throws to regain the lead. The Eagles maintained the lead throughout. Sean Scott hit a layup with 13:22 remaining to pull the Tigers within a point, 51-50. The Tigers kept it within a point twice more in the next three minutes, but Robert Morris worked to trade points with the Tigers.

A three-point play by Addison Smith with 4:59 to play was the last time Campbellsville sat within one possession of the Eagles. Aubrey McAlpine followed with his first 3 of the second half to work the score to five, 66-61. The Eagles went on to close the game on a 10-2 run, hitting 7-of-8 free throws in the final 2:25, while Campbellsville missed its last five shots and had three turnovers during the same stretch.

Ennis led all players with 14 points, but scored only three in the second half. Addison Smith and Thomas each had 10 for the Tigers, while Payne finished with eight.

Kashaune McKinney scored 14 and added five assists for the Eagles, followed by 13 apiece from Sean Montgomery and McAlpine. Brian Bradley had 10.

Campbellsville (9-6, 3-4 MSC) will return home for the first time in nearly a month on Saturday to host Bluefield College in Mid-South Conference play. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST.

BOX SCORE