CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Tiger basketball was unable to overcome an 18-point deficit and their rally fell short, falling to Indiana University Southeast, 85-80.
The loss is the first for CU on the season, as they drop to 4-1 overall. Indiana University also splits in the Lou Cunningham Classic after losing to Lindsey Wilson on Friday night 77-66 but improves to 5-3.
The Grenadiers, who are ranked No. 19 in the NAIA DII poll, finished hitting 41 percent from the 3-point line, while CU struggled and only made 31 percent. But it was the free throw shooting that haunted the Tigers. CU sunk only 8-of-17 from the charity stripe (47 percent).
Andrew Smith led the Tigers with 22 points and Tim Coleman sparked Campbellsville's comeback after getting down by 18 points with 6:34 left to finish with a season-high 21 points. Coleman hit seven 3-pointers – the most since teammate
Hagen Tyler drilled 10 vs. Life University his freshman season in 2015-16.
Campbellsville came out on fire with a 10-0 advantage and looked to run away with the first half. But it was IUS answering with a 10-2 run to tie the game at 12-all and eventually getting up by five points, 23-18, with 10:29 left.
CU battled back to make the score 23-all but IUS would once again use another run as Campbellsville went cold from the floor. IUS ended the half with a 15-7 run and led 38-31.
It was the first deficit CU has faced all season at the halftime intermission but this time, IUS was able to hold off a late Tiger run.
CU cut the lead to six points out of halftime, 44-38, and kept it under double figures until the 11:14 mark, 52-41. The Grenadiers jumped ahead 67-49 with 5:58 left but this time it was Campbellsville rallying one final time.
That's when Coleman got hot from the floor and put CU on his back. In the final 3:53, Coleman drained four of his seven 3s and led CU's rally to get the lead down to seven, 77-70.
In the final minute, CU whittled the deficit to as little as five, 79-74 and 82-77, but IUS' Jamie Johnson made a pair of free throws and scored on a run-away layup to ice the game.
Cody Young and Joe Jackson led all scorers with 22 points and both played the second half in foul trouble. Young finished with a double-double, as he added a game-high 10 rebounds.
Campbellsville's Adam Stanford was one board away from a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds to lead CU.
Campbellsville will stay in the Powell Athletic Center for the next five games. CU hosts Freed-Hardeman University on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. ET.
