FRANKFORT, Ky. — Jordan Myers proved to be a game-changer for the Campbellsville Tigers after a lackluster performance by the team in the first half. The post scored 25 points, 22 of which came in the second 20 minutes of play. Head coach Keith Adkins thinks the team adjusted their focus after a quick run in the late minutes of the first half and some words of motivation during halftime.

"I told our guys, 'one team approached that half like it could be their last game of the year and lets be honest, that team wasn't us. Seniors, lets face it, it could be the last of your career. We need to turn that around and play like this may be our last game.'"

A Malik Thomas basket put Campbellsville on the board to start the game, but the Tigers soon fell behind on a Andrew Devlin free-throw make just a minute later. The junior forward would go on to lead the Bears in scoring with nine points in the half. CU was unable to get back on top the entire period, trailing by as much as 15 with just under three minutes left on the clock.

CU somewhat struggled at the rim, shooting nearly 10 percent less than Shawnee (38 percent). The main problem came on the boards, though, as the Bears out-rebounded Campbellsville 23-12.

Despite the 15-point deficit at the 2:44 mark, CU made a quick run (9-2) on three shots from behind the arc. Darius Clement hit the first two from the same spot on the left side of the key for his third of the half, cutting the gap to 10, 37-27, with 35 seconds left on the clock.

With only five seconds remaining, Thomas intercepted a pass from SSU guard, Tyler Boyles. The forward proceeded to race up the court and threw off a quick last-second shot from behind the arc, which banked its way in while also drawing a foul from Boyles. It was Thomas' first 3 of the season.

Thomas was unable to knock down the free shot, but successfully cut the the lead to seven, building CU's momentum before they entered the locker room, down 37-30.

Although the half was full of mistakes, the Tigers were successful in keeping the ball out of the hands of usual top scorer Jeremy Bennington, holding him scoreless.

"Bennington didn't get many good looks, and we knew that when he gets frustrated he would take bad shots," said Adkins. "We did a good job forcing him into some bad ones."

Campbellsville came out with a new fire after Adkins' speech to begin the second half. Myers scored the initial five points for the Tigers on a quick 3-pointer and hook shot. The junior post would go on to be unstoppable in the period.

CU went on an immediate 19-3 run in the first eight minutes, 10 of those coming from Myers, six from Justin Ennis, and three from Bryton Taylor. Campbellsville found themselves on top, 49-40.

Bennington finally answered with his first three points of the game, and would go on to finish with 10 in the half to tie Ian Nixson. Devlin was the biggest threat for the Bears, though, scoring a total of 18.

A Devlin basket at the 6:49 mark pulled the Bears within two, but Myers answered with an immediate four-point run. The post continued to perform, throwing up a deep three  just under the three minute mark to pull the Tigers ahead by double digits, 67-56. Shawnee was never able to recover from the deficit.

"Jordan Myers stepped up and made some big 3s," said Adkins. "He was also as good defensively as he was offensively. Shawnee's All-Conference guy, Tyler Morgan, struggled with Jordan's size and strength. He was only 3-of-10 in the post, and I attribute that to Jordan's defense."

Myers ended with five rebounds, behind Vernon Payne, who finished with 10.

Myers' 25-point performance was followed by Ennis with 11, Clement and Addison Smith with 10.

After being out-rebounded by 11 in the first half, CU came back to out-rebound Shawnee 18-16 in the second. Campbellsville ended the night shooting 48 percent from the field, Shawnee finishing with a 36 percent performance.

The Tigers will face the No. 1 seed, Lindsey Wilson College, in the semifinals Saturday at 6 p.m. EST. The two faced off earlier this week in a regular season finale that CU pulled out in overtime on the road, 69-66. 

To follow the team, go to www.campbellsvilletigers.com.