PIKEVILLE, Ky. — For the sixth-straight year, Campbellsville men's basketball drops a nail bitter to University of Pikeville on the road, 79-76.


Elliott Young led Campbellsville with 20 points by hitting four 3-point baskets. But Pikeville had an answer for Young in the second half, only allowing five points from the junior. UPIKE's K.K. Simmons was that answer, finishing with 23 points on 9-of-20 shooting and 2-of-11 from the 3-point line.

The Tigers (18-8, 5-7 MSC) picked up their largest lead of 11 points, 56-45 with 11:22 remaining. Sekou Harris, Rob Robinson and Ron Scott all drained consecutive 3s but the 22^nd-ranked Tigers were unable to hold down the fourth-ranked Bears.

Pikeville (22-3, 9-3 MSC) went on a 20-5 run and regained the lead after Dmitri Reaves scored his only two points to push the Bears ahead 63-61. UPIKE's Michael Lewis then scored a bucket and pushed the lead to four, 65-61, to cap the big run at the 5:53 mark.

The final 5:53 was an absolute knock-down-drag-out. Campbellsville and Pikeville traded leads seven separate times with neither team able to get ahead by more than two points until the final score.

Campbellsville seemed to be able to get over the hump after Harris drove down the right side of the lane and made a floater while being fouled. He capitalized on the freebie and the Tigers regained the lead 75-74 with 42 seconds to play.

Pikeville came right back, as Christian Leach scored two of his 15 points to give the Bears the advantage right back, 76-75 with 31 seconds left.

Dii'jon Allen-Jordan came in, in the clutch and knocked down two free throws with 18 ticks remaining. He finished with 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

But like the back-and-fourth game we saw, UPIKE answered for the final dagger. Colt Chapman drew a double team in the lane and found Leach all alone under the basket for what ended up being the game winner.

Campbellsville had a chance late but a costly turnover by Allen-Jordan with three seconds left sealed the UPIKE win. Leach was fouled with 0.9 seconds remaining and knocked down two free throws to push the final to, 79-76.

The Tigers finished with 14 turnovers and UPIKE scored 23 points off those turnovers. UPIKE also had 46 of their points come from the paint compared to only 24 for CU. The Bears bench also doubled CU, 26-13, in scoring.

The loss is the sixth-straight for CU at UPIKE and 10^th in the last 13 games to the Bears. Out of the six losses, the total margin of victory for the Bears has been a combined 15 points.

Campbellsville stays on the road for another crucial Mid-South Conference matchup on Saturday. The Tigers travel to Williamsburg, Ky. to face University of the Cumberlands. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. with 88.7 The Tiger's coverage starting at 1:45.