Men's Basketball

Tigers' Senior Night spoiled by buzzer beater

Box Score

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Senior Night started with a buzz that traveled nation-wide, but ended with a buzzer-beating 3 to suck the life out of Powell Athletic Center Monday night.

Craig Anderson took advantage of a travel call against Darius Clement with four seconds to play and drained a 3 from the top of the key to lift No. 26 Lindenwood University-Belleville over Campbellsville, 79-76, as time expired.

 



The 3 was the exclamation point of an increased offensive effort in the second half by the Lynx and missed defensive assignments by the Tigers.

"After Thursday's game (a 99-92 triple overtime loss at St. Catharine College), I was completely heart-broken. I felt terrible for our guys and our staff. It was one we deserved to win. We did everything we were supposed to and within our system. I am disappointed in another way tonight," said Keith Adkins, CU head coach. "We did everything but in our system. We did everything but defend the way we're supposed to. We did everything incorrectly tonight. To start the second half, we had a certain way we were defending their ball screens and then we had five guys doing it differently, and we weren't on the same page. When that happens, you're going to get this result."

Campbellsville stormed out of their Senior Night pregame ceremony on a 10-0 run. Junior Eric Gaines brought the crowd to its feet and lit up Twitter with an ESPN Top 10-worthy one-handed dunk to posterize Lynx forward Garrett Gaffner. Gaffner was whistled for the foul and Gaines hit the free throw to give CU its first double-digit lead, 10-0, in the first four minutes.

The Lynx responded and took a brief lead, 18-17, on a free throw by Lawson Warren at the 11:58 mark in the first half after Craig Anderson tied it at 17-all.

Jordan Myers answered with a 3 to spark another run for the Tigers, 14-2, to regain their double-digit lead, 32-20. CU built the run by shooting 6-for-9 from the field since the Lynx took their lead.

However, Anderson ended the run with a  floater over the top of A'Darius Pegues'  block attempt and Lindenwood-Belleville closed the half on an 11-5 run to cut the Tigers' lead to six at halftime, 37-31.

The two teams attempted to compete in a 3-point shootout in the second half. The Lynx scored 14 of their first 16 points of the second half off 3s or free throws to push ahead for a 45-43 lead at the 15:37 mark of the second half. Miles Rice, Jacobby Anderson and Rice again hit 3s to swap leads and then tie it, 50-50. Craig Anderson later hit a 3 with 12:28 to play to gain a 55-52 LUB lead, which the Lynx never let go.

Campbellsville held Lindenwood-Belleville 0-for-3 from the arc in the first half, but gave up six 3s in the second half, including three by Craig Anderson, who led all players with 25 points.

The Lynx grew their lead to as many as six, 72-66, before Clement hit two free throws to end and then DeMarcus Page drew a charge and hit a 3 to pull the Tigers within a point, 72-71. CU got another stop but Clement missed a 3 with 3:22 to play, and Craig Anderson managed to draw a foul to hit two more free throws to maintain the lead. Page had a chance to give CU the lead with a pair of free throws late, but missed the first and hit the second to tie it at 74 with 1:45 to play. Lawson Warren and Clement traded baskets before the game-ending basket.

Rice and senior Jordan Myers each led CU with 15 points, including three 3s each. Page had 12, Gaines 11 and Clement 10.

Warren scored 18 to follow Craig Anderson's lead for the Lynx, followed by Jacobby Anderson's 14 and 11 by Chris Stevenson.

Prior to the game, Adkins and the Tigers honored seniors Jordan Myers, A'Darius Pegues and DeShawn Dockery. Following the game, Adkins reflected on each senior.

"You want seniors to go out on a good note, and I'm disappointed that didn't happen for them. You look at guys like Jordan, who is so much more than a college basketball player. He's an absolutely incredible person. He has worked hard for three years here. He has been a Scholar Athlete. He has won us basketball games, and has been an ambassador of Campbellsville University through mission trips and out in this community. He is a guy who will be sorely missed personally and from the program aspect, and he'll be missed for so much more than being a basketball player.

"A'Darius Pegues has had a good one year for us. When you have guys like him and Doc both, you wish you could have them more than a year. AD has been a journeyman in college basketball and been a couple of different places. I'm glad I've had the opportunity to spend time with him and be a part of his life, and hopefully he has benefited from being in our program.

"Doc I feel bad for. He went through some injuries. This was supposed to be a great year for him, a senior year where things happen, and he's been battling adversity through injuries all year, and we never did see the real DeShawn Dockery, because of his injuries. He's a class act, a great kid, and you wish we had him more than a year."

Campbellsville (14-12) will hit the road this weekend to close the regular season. CU will first travel to No. 2 University of Pikeville on Thursday at 8 p.m., and then will travel to Bluefield College on Saturday for a 4 p.m. tip.

 

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