FRANKFORT, Ky. — Tiger basketball couldn't overcome an 18-point first-half deficit and top-seeded Georgetown College ended CU's run at repeating as Mid-South Conference tournament champions, 78-73.
Georgetown (27-3) led 41-23 at halftime and took advantage of a poor shooting percentage from Campbellsville (22-10). The Tigers shot just 26 percent in the opening half and only capitalized on 1-of-13 3-point baskets.
The second half was a much different story, though. Campbellsville caught fire and hit 50 percent from the floor (18-of-36) led by Dii'jon Allen-Jordan's 24-point second half. The senior forward from Plainfield, N.J., finished one point shy of a career-high (29) and hit all 11 of his free throw attempts.
The Tigers still were unable to get it going from deep, though. CU finished hitting 4-of-23 from behind the 3-point line – its lowest mark of the season.
Campbellsville started the second half rally with four quick points and picked up a little momentum after Mid-South Conference Player of the Year Deondre McWhorter was whistled for a technical foul. CU was able to cut the lead to 10 points with a 3 by Rob Robinson and Hagen Tyler hit another to cut the lead to single digits, 58-50.
Georgetown wouldn't let the comeback come easy and extended its lead back to double-digits, 74-64 with 2:42 left, after Trent Gilbert drilled one of his four 3s.
Then the Tigers in maroon and grey rallied with a 9-0 run cutting the lead to one with 18.4 seconds left. Tyler swished his second 3, then Elliott Young picked up a crucial block on Tony Kimbro for another Georgetown turnover. Allen-Jordan made two free throws, then Sekou Harris followed with a contested layup to cap the run and CU's scoring.
On the ensuing inbounds pass, Noah Cottrill was fouled and hit clutch free throws to extend the lead to three points, 76-73. After a timeout by Campbellsville, Tyler missed a contested 3 and and Cottrill made two more free throws to seal the Georgetown win.
Georgetown outscored Campbellsville in bench points (34-7) but 20 of those coming from senior Tony Kimbro. He finished hitting 8-of-15 from the floor and hit 3-of-5 3-pointers. Gilbert was another Georgetown killer from deep, hitting four 3s and scoring 14 points. Cottrill finished with 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead GC.
Campbellsville will now await its fate for an at-large big to the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City, Mo. Georgetown will play the winner of Lindsey Wilson College and University of the Cumberlands in the Mid-South Conference Tournament finals on Sunday, March 6 at 4 p.m. ET
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