CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Campbellsville University men's basketball came into tonight's first game of the Lou Cunningham Classic with a four-game losing streak but the Tigers nipped it in the bud and beat Ohio Christian 94-71.

BOX SCORE
 

"We were a team coming into tonight's game searching for something positive," said CU Head Coach Keith Adkins. "I feel like we got exactly what we wanted and we showed a lot of poise in tonight's game."
 

On a night where you would think it would be a low scoring game because of a very whistle-happy officiating crew and both teams shooting a combined 67 free throws, Campbellsville used it's freshmen 3-point shooters to take the advantage.

Miles Rice shot 5-for-8 from the 3-point line and led the Tigers in scoring with 22 points. But fellow freshman Quin Richardson chipped in 3-for-4 shooting behind the arc and finished with a career-high 15 points.

"All of the freshman are going through the transition from high school to college," said Adkins. "The game is a lot faster and more physical. One-third of our roster is freshman and they're going to have to step up in the second half of the season and not make those freshman mistakes anymore. They showed me they can do that tonight."

The Tigers came out sluggish in the first half as Ohio Christian jumped to a 20-13 lead. But after an administrative technical foul called on the Ohio Christian coaching staff for playing a player not on the roster, Darius Clement sank two free throws to start what would seem to be runs of points by both teams.

Neither team seemed to be able to get in front and control the game in the first 20 minutes. But with 7:30 remaining in the first half, Rice hit a timely 3-pointer to give CU its first lead of the game and one which it would never relinquish.

The Tigers used a 17-8 run to end the half and led 42-34.

Rice led all scorers in the first half with 14 points and Evin Bartlett led the Trailblazers with nine.

The second half started much like the first, as both teams would trade baskets until the 17:31 mark. Campbellsville used an out-of-bounds lob pass to Rice who finished with a flush.

But Richardson would not let his teammate outdo him as the Georgetown, Ky. native showed his confidence by stepping into back-to-back 3-point baskets to kick-start the Tigers route over Ohio Christian.

"This was a great night for Quin," said Adkins. "He needed something positive to happen for him, something to get excited about, something to show him a glimpse of his potential and it came tonight. He is a freshman who has had his ups and downs this season but his position is the toughness transition from high school to college. He has to be the quarterback on the floor and he's done a great job so far. We are going to need him after Christmas break because he won't really be a freshman anymore."

But the defense and rebounding has to get a little credit as well. The Tigers forced 17 turnovers and out-rebounded the Trailblazers 40-30.

Eric Gaines and Kadeem Thornton both finished with seven rebounds and led CU. Jordan Myers, who saw limited action tonight due to foul trouble, recorded six rebounds in just 11 minutes of play.
 

Adkins used his whole team tonight in the victory. Every Tiger who dressed got into the game, picking up valuable minutes.

Also, for the first time all season every player on the team scored. 

"We had a lot of guys get good minutes, not only did they just get into the game but all of them got at least 11 minutes and contributed to the win tonight. It's great to see everyone get playing time in the first half of the season because now the young guys got their feet wet and are coming into their own."

With the win tonight the Tigers improve to 3-4 and Ohio Christian drops to 5-9.

Campbellsville will play again tomorrow in the Lou Cunningham classic as Philander Smith College comes into Powell Athletic Center. Game time is set 7 p.m.

Follow Campbellsville University Men's Basketball on Twitter - @CVILLETIGERS and Facebook – CAMPBELLSVILLE TIGERS

 

Statistics: Box Score

Tigers (94) - Rice 22, Gaines 15, Richardson 15,  Taylor 9, Pegues 8, Young 6, Myers 6, Clement 5, Thornton 3, Dockery 3, Page 2. Totals 30-51 (.588)

Half time score: CU – 42    OCC – 34

Three-Point Field Goals - Campbellsville 10-20 (.500) – Rice 5-8, Richardson 3-4, Dockery 1-1, Taylor 1-1

Rebounds – Campbellsville (40) – Thornton 7, Gaines 7, Myers 6, Page 4, Young 3, Taylor 3, Richardson 3, Pegues 2, Rice 1

Assists – Campbellsville (14) – Richardson 4, Clement 4, Dockery 3, Page 3, Gaines 2, Thornton 2, Rice 2, Myers 1.

Steals – Campbellsville (5) – Dockery 2, Gaines 1, Thornton 1, Richardson 1.