LAS VEGAS – Defense was the key Saturday evening, as the Campbellsville Tigers opened the 2013-14 season with a 58-42 win over Vanguard University in the third game of the Tip-Off Classic, played at the Chuck Minker Sports Complex.

It is CU's first-ever regular season matchup and win against a member of the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC).

BOX SCORE

The Tigers held Vanguard (1-1) to 21.9 percent shooting from the field and 9.5 percent (2-of-21) from 3-point range, while controlling the defensive glass, 41-15. The Lions' 42 points are their fewest in a regular season game in more than a decade.

Campbellsville led the entire game, carrying a 38-22 lead into halftime and charging out to an 18-point lead early in the second half.

"It was a dominating defensive performance by our guys … as good a defensive performance from a team that I've had," said CU head coach Keith Adkins. "We've talked all season so far about being good defensively, so when you have off nights offensively, you still give yourself a shot to beat good teams."

That's exactly what the Tigers did. CU scored its lowest point total in a win since a 2012 win over the University of Pikeville, 58-57, but shot 50 percent from the floor and 50 percent from the 3-point arc to counteract 24 turnovers. The Tigers were 12-of-18 (66.7 percent) from the floor in the first half, including 5-of-7 from 3.

"Offensively we have some things we could have done better. We shot it well, but we turned it over way too many times," Adkins said. "If you told me we'd turn it over 24 times and win by double figures I'd said you were crazy."

Freshman guard Miles Rice led all scorers with 25 points, including 5-of-7 3-point shooting and 8-of-10 from the free thrown line. Rice, who was a top two scorer in both of CU's exhibition games against Oklahoma State University and Western Kentucky University, is the first CU freshman to score 20-plus in his collegiate debut since Zach Allender dropped 29 against Union College in 2004.

"Miles was really good offensively. He shot the ball incredibly. He had only four assists and three turnovers. We said this all through the preseason, this is what we expected from," Adkins said. "A lot of credit goes to the high school program he played in and to Coach (Mike) Sabo at Trinity High School for the coaching he has received. He was ready to play college basketball both physically and skill level wise."

Following Rice's lead was A'Darius Pegues, who had 11 points and 12 rebounds, all on the defensive glass. Eric Gaines added eight points.

Vanguard, which dropped 101 points in its season-opener Nov. 4 against Cal Tech, only had two double-digit scorers: DeAngelo Jones (15) and Preston Wynne (12).

Campbellsville (1-0) will do battle against another GSAC team Saturday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. PST/5 p.m. EST, when it meets tournament sponsor, sixth-ranked Concordia University Irvine (Calif.).

It will be the first meeting between CU and Concordia since the 2008 NAIA Tournament, which Campbellsville won en route to a Fab Four appearance.

"They're very good. They are one of the elite programs in the country in NAIA basketball. They have a runner-up under the belt and a national title. They're really deep and athletic," Adkins said. "They're not very big in the post. One key will be to get A'Darius post ups, and if we can get that done against Concorida, that gives us a fighting chance."

Campbellsville University men's basketball arrived in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 7 and will fly out Sunday, Nov. 10. Adkins hopes the team can enjoy experience after Saturday's game.

"We've handled in a professional manner. We're out here first and foremost to play basketball against two great teams, and hopefully prepare us for what's coming up," Adkins said. "At the same time, we hope to get out and see some of the sights and let them experience being in Las Vegas. We're here to play basketball but at the same time we want to create some memorable experiences for our guys as well."

For updates of Campbellsville men's basketball during the Tip-Off Classic, follow Campbellsville University Athletics on Twitter at @CvilleTigers.


NOTES
- The game is the first-ever for CU against a GSAC team in the regular season.
- Campbellsville is now 2-3 against GSAC teams, all in the Keith Adkins era.
- Campbellsville is ranked No. 26 preseason in NAIA Division I Men's Basketball, while Vanguard is No. 27.
- CU is 1-1 against Concordia University with a 2008 win in the first round of the NAIA Tournament.
- Miles Rice is the first freshman to score more than 25 points in his collegiate debut since Zach Allender had 29 against Union College on Nov. 2, 2004.
- The last time CU held an opponent to 42 points or less was January 2008 in a 109-35 win over Ohio State University-Mansfield.
- Vanguard was held to its lowest point total since a 2010 exhibition loss, 74-42, at Fresno State University.

- CU's last win scoring 58 points or fewer was January 2012, 58-57, over the University of Pikeville.
- In the earlier games of the Tip-Off Classic, No. 6 Concordia defeated No. 17 Rocky Mountain and No. 12 Cal State defeated Warner Pacific, 87-75.
- Campbellsville is the only team from the Eastern Time Zone playing in the Tip-Off Classic.