WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – It was a tale of two halves for the Tigers Saturday afternoon at the O. Wayne Rollins Center that saw the University of the Cumberlands edge out 77-76 victory.
 
The game came down to free throws in the final minute as the Patriots made the one that mattered most with four seconds left to take that one-point lead. Prior to the go-ahead free throw, UC missed five of six free throws with a one-point lead to keep the Tigers within one at 76-74.
 
Hagen Tyler drew a foul and knocked down his two free throws to tie the score at 76 all before Jordan Griggs hit his first of two. Campbellsville only took 11 free throws, fewer than the amount of free throws made by Cumberlands who went 13-for-20 from the line.
 
CU had to get back into a game that they led by 19 at one point in the first half as the Tigers shot the ball extremely well in the opening 20 minutes.
 
Campbellsville shot 58.1 percent from the field with 11 assists on 18 made baskets. As a team, CU started 5-for-5 from three and finished the half 7-for-10 from distance.
 
The Tigers started the game on a 20-8 run and finished the first half on a 14-5 run to head into the break up 44-28. Tyler and Andrew Smith had a great first half as Tyler led the way with 12 and Smith scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
 
Smith finished with a double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds but UC outrebounded the Tigers 41-33 in the game.
 
The teams reversed roles in the second half as the Patriots started on a big run, that helped them get their first lead of the game. UC went 25-9 through the 10:59 mark in the second half to get a 53-52 lead on the Tigers. In the half, Cumberlands outscored CU 49-32 behind that early run and a combined 31 points from Griggs and Jahi Hinson in the half.

The Tigers will return home to the Powell Athletic Center next Thursday to host No. 15 Pikeville at 8 p.m. ET before heading back on the road to Shawnee State next Saturday.