CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – CU men's basketball is set to host the Mid-South Conference/Southern States Challenge this weekend at the Powell Athletic Center as they will play games on both Friday and Saturday.
 
These games will be broadcasted live on the CU Sports Network as Brett Tudela and Zak Wilson will be on the call. Fans can watch online at CampbellsvilleTigers.com/watch or stream the game on the Roku and Apple TV apps on their televisions.
 
THE CHALLENGE

• Over the weekend, the Tigers will host Dalton State College, Stillman College, and Shawnee State University in the MSC/Southern States Challenge.
• Shawnee State and Stillman College will open the tournament up on Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
• CU and Dalton State will follow with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
• On Saturday, Dalton State will faceoff with Shawnee State at 11:00 a.m. ET, with the Tigers and Stillman to follow at 1 p.m. ET.

 
LAST TIME OUT

• The Tigers last played on Nov. 2^ndwhen they were able to capture a 72-57 win over Lindenwood-Belleville.
• CU's backcourt led the way as guards Jacob King (12) and Taiveyhon Mason (10) were the only two Tigers scoring double digits. 
• Overall the Tigers were able to spread the scoring around as all players who saw the court, with the exception of one recorded a point.
• The Tigers also looked to rely on their depth after early foul trouble from Lenorris Mincey and Justin Tucker. Overall, the three CU big men were able to contribute 18 points and nine boards to the 15-point win.

 
 SCOUTING DALTON STATE

• After wins over Oakwood and Reinhardt to open the season, Dalton State arrives at the Powel Athletic Center win a 2-0 record.
• Averaging 83 points per game, the Road Runners have four players averaging double digits, led by Randy Bell with 16 points per game and Jordan Young, averaging 15.
• Young, the 6-7 senior, also leads the team in rebounding after bringing down 23 boards in their two games thus far.
• Dalton State also enters the challenge with one of the top defenses in the country, as the rank first in the NAIA in field goal percentage defense (0.244), third in scoring defense per game (53.5), and eighth in steals per game (14.50).

 
SCOUTING STILLMAN

• Stillman will also being the challenge with a 2-0 record after defeating Morris and Rust.
• SC also enters as the NAIA preseason ranked 14^thteam in the country.
• Averaging 95.5 points per game, the Tigers are in the top 20 in scoring amongst NAIA teams.
• Stillman also ranks fourth in three-point field goal percentage defense (0.216) and sixth in total field goal percentage (0.563).

RECENT HISTORY IS MSC/SSAC CHALLENGE

• After not participating in the challenge last season, the Tigers return to the MSC/SSAC Challenge for the first time since 2017-18.
• In Coach Vernon's tenure, the Tigers are 4-2 in the challenge with two wins over NAIA top 25 teams. 
• The last time CU participate, 2017-18, they boasted a 3-0 record with wins over Martin Methodist, Brewton-Parker, and Bethel University.

 
TIGERS RANK 21^STENTERING THE YEAR

• As the NAIA released its Preseason Coaches' Poll on Wednesday, Campbellsville earned 76 voting points to be ranked 21^stoverall in the poll.
• CU was given this ranking after a 22-10 record and an appearance at the NAIA National Tournament had them ending last season in the receiving votes category of the poll.
• The Tigers will seek to continue to move up the rankings with a hot start to the season, after an 11-0 start last year propelled them as high as fifth in the poll.

POWELL IS THE PLACE TO BE

• These games will be the final two home games for CU to start the season, before they head on the road to play Alice Lloyd.
• On the season, the Powell Athletic Center will host 17 games for the Tigers, where head coach Brent Vernon has found tremendous success.
• Throughout his tenure, the Tigers have boasted a 36-11 home record, including a 14-2 record at home last season.

DEPTH OF THE MID-SOUTH CONFERENCE

• After a 7-7 conference record last season, the Tigers were selected to finish fourth in the Mid-South Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll.
• Campbellsville was also selected as the fourth Mid-South Conference team in the NAIA Coaches' Preseason Poll as the conference featured five teams mentioned in the poll.
• Following a national championship last season, Georgetown enters the year earning the overall spot in the national poll, closely followed by Pikeville who was ranked fifth.
• The University of the Cumberlands was also mentioned ahead of Campbellsville in the poll as they earned the 16^thspot in the rankings.
• Trailing Campbellsville in the poll is Life University who sits outside of the rankings in the receiving votes category.

CU SPORTS NETWORK

• All Tiger home games will be streamed on the CU Sports Network on campbellsvilletigers.com, as well as the home Mid-South Conference games scheduled to be aired on WLCU-TV.
• Campbellsvilletigers.com allows anyone not able to make it to the Powell Athletic Center for home games to view games for free.

MSC ACTION THUS FAR

• Cumberland University and University of the Cumberlands are the only teams in the conference that have losses so far this season as the two hold records of 3-1 and 2-2.
• Pikeville and Shawnee State lead the conference in games played as they each have a 5-0 record entering the weekend.

UPCOMING FOR CAMPBELLSVILLE

• Following their games this weekend, CU will visit Alice Lloyd College on Tuesday, Nov. 12 to match up with the Eagles.