Men's Basketball 12/10/2019 9:15:00 AM CU Athletics

Tigers return home for final game before Christmas against Simmons

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - After opening MSC play at Lindsey Wilson last Saturday, the Tigers will return home to host the Simmons College of Kentucky Falcons for their final game before Christmas and final home game of 2019 with tipoff coming at 5 p.m. ET.

Campbellsville, boasting a 7-5 record, host the Falcons who sit at 3-8, while playing a tough schedule, including a slate of Mid-South Conference teams with Georgetown, Pikeville, U. of the Cumberlands, and Lindsey Wilson making up four of their 11 games thus far.

The Tigers have found success over the Falcons in the past with a pair of 56+ point wins over the past few seasons. However, as the record may not show, Simmons College is much improved, with only a 10 point loss to LWC, a seven point loss to the Patriots, and a pair of 29+ point wins themselves.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Matt Payton will be on the call for the game on 88.7 The Tiger, WLCU-TV (Comcast 10), and www.CampbellsvilleTigers.com/watch, with pregame starting at 4:45 p.m. ET.

SERIES FACTS

Campbellsville and Simmons College will be meeting for just the third time in program history.
The Tigers and the Falcons have met the past two seasons, as CU holds a 2-0 record with Simmons.
Both meetings have taken place in the Powell Atletic Center.
CU was able to win 121-65 in 2017 and 111-48 a year ago.
Last season, the Tigers were able to spot 111 points on the Falcons, their third largest scoring total of the 2018-19 campaign.
Current Tiger GA, Hagen Tyler exploded hitting eight three point baskets in his first 12 minutes of play.
Tyler ended his night shooting 13-of-16 from the field and 8-of-11 from deep to lead the Tigers with 37 points.
Jacob King was also able to set a career high 10 assists in the matchup.
The Falcons were led by James Mosley in the contest with 15 points. Korey Mosley is the leading scoring return who totalled nine points in teh meeting.
Mosley and Jonathan Henry are the lone returners for the Falcons from last years game, as CU will return King, Sam Weining, Ronald Taylor, and Nolan Barrow.

TAYLOR HITTING HIS STRIDE

Senior guard, Ronald Taylor as upped his production of late, to lead the Tigers in scoring with 11.2 ppg.
After averaging just five ppg through the first five contests, Taylor has scored double digit points in six of the last seven games, averaging 15.6 ppg in that span.
This run has included a pair of twenty point games, as Taylor recorded a career high with 23 against IU Southeast.
Averaging just 6.5 ppg a year ago, Taylor has been able to nearly double his scoring, while bumping his shooting percentage up 4%.
Off the bench, the guard also leads the team in free throws made, and ranks second in rebounds with 56 the year.

POWELL IS THE PLACE TO BE

In his four year tenure with the Tigers, Coach Vernon has found tremendous success in the Powell Athletic Center with a 37-14 overall record, highlight by a 14-2 record last year.
This season Coach Vernon and the Tigers have gone 5-3 at home, with two of their three losses being within three points.
The Tigers will enter Wednesday riding a two game home winning streak after back-to-back wins in the Campbellsville Classic.

SCOUTING SIMMONS

Simmons enters Wednesday's contest with a 3-8 record, but have won three of their last five contests.
Playing top NAIA competition, the Falcons have held their own, only falling to LWC by 10 and U. of the Cumberlands by seven.
Averaging 69.2 points per game, Simmons holds a scoring margin of -9.3 ppg after a 59 point loss to Marian, a 24 point losses to Georgetown and Pikeville, all of which are ranked inside the NAIA's polls.
The Falcons are led by Montrell Little who has averaged 18.9 ppg and 7.1 rpg, both of which lead the team.
Simmons' returners, Jonathon Henry and Korey Mosley have also provided solid contributions for the Falcons, as Henry averages 16.6 ppg and Mosley follows with 13.6 ppg.

TIGER CLAWZ

CU is playing just its second true road game of the year on Saturday.
The Tigers have hit a 3-pointer in 530-straight games dating back to the beginning of the 2003-04 season on Dakstats.
The first half has been the Tigers' friend this season, outscoring opponents 457-369. The second half has been their nemesis only outscoring opponents, 504-460.
When leading at halftime, the Tigers are 5-3.
Taiveyhon Mason ranks tenth in the NAIA in steals with 25 and No. 29 with 2.08 steals per game.
Mason is 0.8 rebounds per game and 0.3 points per game away from leading the Tigers in the main stat categories - points, assists, steals, rebounds and blocks.
CU is seeking to get back on the winning side of things after falling to Lindsey Wilson last Saturday.

UP NEXT FOR CU

The Tigers will now face a 17-day layoff for Christmas before returning to action on Dec. 29 and 30 for the University of the Cumberlands Classic.
CU will return home on Jan. 4 to stark the bulk of conference play a 4 p.m. against Cumberland University.
The game will air on the CU Sports Network - radio, TV, and online.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#24 Hagen Tyler: G; 6' 3"; Senior; Danville, Ky.

#15 Nolan Barrow: G; 5' 11"; Sophomore; Elkton, Ky.

#2 Jacob King: G; 5' 9"; Junior; Louisville, Ky.

#4 Ronald Taylor: G; 6' 3"; Senior; Bradenton, Fla.

#22 Sam Weining: G; 6' 3"; Sophomore; Louisville, Ky.

#14 Taiveyhon Mason: G; 5' 10"; Junior; Hopkinsville, Ky.

Players Mentioned

#24 Hagen Tyler
: 6' 3"; Senior; Danville, Ky.
: G

#15 Nolan Barrow
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Elkton, Ky.
: G

#2 Jacob King
: 5' 9"; Junior; Louisville, Ky.
: G

#4 Ronald Taylor
: 6' 3"; Senior; Bradenton, Fla.
: G

#22 Sam Weining
: 6' 3"; Sophomore; Louisville, Ky.
: G

#14 Taiveyhon Mason
: 5' 10"; Junior; Hopkinsville, Ky.
: G