WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – Sunday afternoon, the Tigers got back to action after a 17-day layoff to meet up with Miami-Hamilton as a part of the University of the Cumberlands Classic.
 
Missing De'Undra Singleton, David Simmons, and Justin Tucker the Tigers knew it would take some big performances to tally their ninth win of the season. CU was able to step up after a handful of career and season-high performances. 
 
From the tip, it seemed to be Taiveyhon Mason's night as he was able to record seven of the team's first nine points to put CU up 9-3 less than two minutes into play.
 
After the run forced an early Harrier timeout, Miami-Hamilton responded with 22-9 run over the next nine minutes of action to give the Harriers a 25-18 lead slightly over halfway through the period.
 
Following a stream of turnovers and missed field goals from both teams, the Tigers began to claw back by way of the three-point basket over the final 3:30 in the half. After trailing 30-25, Max Reyes sparked the CU run with two and three point baskets to even up the score.
 
Reyes' triple was then followed by a string of three point baskets from Richie Mitchell, another from Reyes, and Mason to enter the half leading 39-37. Mason's three as time was expiring gave him 17 points on the day, only two away from his previous career high set on Nov. 9^th.
 
With success from behind the arc in the first half, shooting 58% from deep, the Tigers looked to attack immediately from three with six three point attempts in their first nine shots of the second half.
 
Sam Weining and Mitchell capitalized on their attempt giving the Tigers a 45-41 lead. CU continued to look to extend their lead to 50-43 before the Harriers called a timeout.
 
Much like the first half, Miami-Hamilton responded and came out of the timeout to spark a run of their own after a pair of three pointers from Mike Jackson and four points from Devan Cook gave the Harriers a 55-54 lead.
 
With 8:47 left to play, Jacob King was able to step up with a big mid-range basket for his first points of the day, giving the Tigers a one-point lead, which they never relinquished.
 
Over the final 8:47, the Tigers were able to close on a 27-13 run, to give them their first win of the Cumberlands Classic, 81-68.
 
Mason finished the afternoon as the game's leading scorer, marking a career high with 25 points on 10 of 15 shooting. Ronald Taylor, Reyes, and Mitchell were also able to reach double digits.
Despite only two points on the day, King was able to step up tying a career high with five steals, and marking a new career high seven rebounds and a season high six assists. Alston Davis' seven rebounds and Lenorris Mincey's five were also enough for career highs for the Tigers.
 
As a team, the Tigers recorded 13 steals, their most since their season opener. Campbellsville was also able to finish the afternoon on 45.7% shooting with 10 three point baskets.
 
The Tigers will close their 2019 portion of the season and the Cumberlands Classic tomorrow, Dec. 30^th with a 2 p.m. ET meeting with Carver College.