CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The second-ranked Campbellsville Tigers resumed its season Friday afternoon and picked up where they left off 12 days ago before Christmas break. Campbellsville (16-1) controlled the game throughout for a 74-60 win over MidAmerica Nazarene University, which advanced to the NAIA Fab Four last season.
 

It's the Tigers' third win over a Heart of America Athletic Conference team this season and sixth against a team which competed in the NAIA DI National Championships last March.

"In the first half I didn't see any difference in our team from when we left for the break until now. That's a big time positive to come out and have the same energy, and the coach could expect the same things," said Keith Adkins, CU head coach. "In the second half, we lost a little enthusiasm, and probably got a little fatigued, but we'll get through that once we get a few more games under our belt."

BOX SCORE

Both teams swapped leads in the first three minutes of play, but from there on it was primarily Campbellsville.

The Tigers used a 15-4 run to take their first double-digit lead, 17-7, with 12:29 to play. D'Von Campbell scored off a steal by Shawn Johnson to cap the run. However, David Nelson checked into the game for MidAmerica Nazarene with nine minutes to play and drained a 3 from the corner on his first attempt. Three minutes later, Nelson pulled the Pioneers within three points, 25-22, with his second 3 of the game.

Campbellsville responded with three unanswered 3s of their own, one by Rob Robinson and two by Campbell, to create a 12-point buffer with 4:44 to play in the half. Twelve became 17 by halftime, 43-26, after another Campbell 3 in the final minute.

CU scored its first four points of the second half with slams by Damontre Harris and Eric Gaines. Harris went on two have two other exciting dunks in the second half and finished with a team-high 18 points and 15 rebounds.

Eric Gaines scored 17 in the late afternoon game, while Campbell finished with 14, including three 3-pointers. Defensively, Shawn Johnson, Gaines and Campbell followed Harris' lead with six rebounds.

Campbellsville led by as many as 19 points, 49-30, early in the second half on a basket by Johnson. The Tigers hit the 19-point mark twice more and maintained their double-digit lead until Nate Launius hit a pair of free throws to dip the difference to nine points, 63-54, with 4:23 to play. It was the first time the difference in the game was under 10 points since 3:38 remaining in the first half.

Launius finished with a game-high 23 points to lead MNU, including shooting 9-of-10 from the line and 7-of-14 from the floor.

MNU managed to cut the margin to nine points four times in the final five minutes, but a steal and basket by Gaines with 1:07 to play helped seal the win. Campbell hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final minute to ice it.

The Tigers shot 46.9 percent as a team in the game, while holding the Pioneers to 36.7 percent shooting. CU out-rebounded MNU, 34 to 23.

Campbellsville (16-1) awaits the next regular season NAIA Top 25 ranking on Tuesday, Jan. 6, and will return to the court Wednesday, Jan. 7 to host Asbury University (9-3, NAIA DII) in a non-conference game. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at Powell Athletic Center.