CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Campbellsville University rallied from a 13-point deficit early in the second half to hang on to its top spot in the Mid-South Conference with an 83-72 win over Life University in Powell Athletic Center on Thursday.

The win extends the Tigers' win streak to 13 games – the longest since Travis Ford's 1998-99 team started 19-0.

The Tigers were flat in the first half, shooting 22.5 percent from the floor, including 16.7 percent (3-of-18) from 3-point range. However, CU flipped the switch in the second half, shooting 52 percent to outpace the Running Eagles, 53-31, in the final 20 minutes.

"We learned a lot tonight. We learned a lot about ourselves, learned a lot about preparation and hopefully we learned a lot about being No. 1, because right now, we have not handled it very well," CU head coach Keith Adkins said. "We've earned the No. 1 ranking the last few weeks, and we've got to earn the right to keep that. When you go against a bunch of really, really good athletes like Life, we have to learn how to prepare to go against that."

Senior transfer Damontre Harris (Florida) posted the Tigers' first-known triple-double in program history with 11 points and career-highs 19 rebounds and 11 blocks. A dozen of his boards came on offense. He also added five steals.

"Those don't happen very often. He went to war. I don't think there's a question he was the difference in the game. We have to do a much better job at rebounding around him when he goes after blocks. We just sometimes stand and watch, and wait for him to swat it. He was a game changer," Adkins said. "We never could get in a point where we could get in a position to get him the basketball, or he would have had 20, 19 and 11."

While CU's men have never had a known triple-double, the Lady Tigers have had two players achieve a triple-double: Ginger High Colvin and Whitney Ballinger Hooper.

Harris, while pleased with adding his name to the history books, was focused more on the win.

"That was a great game. We competed to the end. The team we have will stick together when we struggle with adversity, and that was an adversity game for sure," Harris said.

BOX SCORE

Campbellsville opened the game with a 10-1 lead, but Life went on a 14-3 run to lead, 15-13, at the first media time out. Miles Rice and Quin Richardson each hit free throws to help CU regain the lead twice around the seven minute mark, but Life outscored the Tigers 20-8 to close the first half up, 41-30.

Adkins said his halftime talk was short and to the point.

"I just looked at them and said, 'Guys, I'm not going to waste my blood pressure on you tonight. You dug this, and we're going to have to live with it. You've got to learn to get yourselves out of the holes we're digging,'" Adkins said.

Allen Dantzler gave Life its largest lead of the night, 43-30, with the opening basket of the second half. D'Con Campbell, who finished with 23 points and six assists, pushed the margin to single-digits, 47-39, on a third-chance tip-in, but Life once again pushed its lead back to 13. Later trailing, 58-46, Rob Robinson hit a 3 in front of the Tigers bench to spark a 9-0 run. Harris capped the run with a pair of free throws to make it a one-possession game, 58-55, with 10:36 to play. He was a perfect 5-of-5 from the line during the game.

Two minutes later, a Harris steal under the Eagles' basket set up an Eric Gaines layup to pull within two, 61-59. Campbell then hit two free throws to tie it, 61-61, for the first time since it was 21-21.

The rally woke up the crowd of nearly 1,000, as students were back for the first time since spring classes began.

"We were the aggressor in the second half, and the crowd was incredible when we needed them. Rob Robinson was running around, waving his arms to get the crowd into it. He did a great job of bringing some energy to us," Adkins said. "We appreciate the crowd, and, man, if we get this place rocking, this is a tough place to play."

The Tigers stayed within striking distance until Robinson hit a 3 from the right wing to regain a 69-67 lead and begin to break open the game for CU. It was the start of a 17-5 Tigers' run in the final four minutes of play.

Robinson finished with 12 points, while Rice also scored in double-figures with 11 points.

Caleb Hayes and Joe Wilbert led Life with 14 points each, followed by Dantzler's 12 and 11 by Juwan Burden.

Campbellsville (19-1, 6-0 MSC) will have Saturday off and continue Mid-South Conference play next Thursday, Jan. 22, at No. 18 Georgetown College. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET in Reid-Davis Alumni Gym on the Georgetown College campus in Georgetown, Ky.

During the game, CU will also be participating in the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness Week.