Men's Basketball 1/10/2020 11:51:00 AM CU Athletics

Top defenses clash as Tigers host Shawnee State in another tough MSC test

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Coming off of their six point feat over the fourth ranked Pikeville Bears, on Thursday, the Tigers will once again, host the Bears, this time of Shawnee State. As both teams rank in the top 10 in points allowed per game, this contest looks to be a low-scoring, high profile matchup.

On a six game winning streak, Taiveyhon Mason and Richie Mitchell have improved their scoring, each scoring double-digits every game since Dec. 11. The Tigers will also have to slow down the scoring efforts of the MSC's 3rd, leading scorer Kyree Elder to improve the streak to seven.

HOW TO WATCH

Matt Payton and Benji Kelly 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 7:45 p.m. ET.

SERIES FACTS

Saturday marks the 26th game all-time between the Bears and the Tigers as CU leads the series 16-9.
As the Tigers put together a seven-game win streak from 2015-2018, they have won eight of the last ten games.
In Shawnee's last trip to play CU in the Powell Athletic Center, the Tigers took down the Bears 91-83, behind 20-point performances from Stephaun Adams and Andrew Smith.

SCOUTING THE BEARS

Shawnee State enters Saturday's matchup following a huge, 95-59 win over Lindsey Wilson on Thursday.
On the year, the Bears have rolled to a 13-5 record, behind stellar defense and rebounding.
Behind EJ Onu leading the NAIA in blocks (99), averaging 5.5 per game, Shawnee State leads the country in blocks per game (6.9) and fg% defense (.347), while ranking fourth in scoring defense per game, allowing 62.78 points.
The 6-11 Onu also ranks in 12th in total rebounds (136), leading the Bears to a first overall ranking in total offensive rebounds (818), fourth in rebounds per game (45.44), sixth in rebounding margin (13.33), seventh in offensive rebounds per game (13.83), and tenth in defensive rebounds per game (31.61).
Proven to be one of the toughest matchups in the Mid-South Conference, Kyree Elder has scored 320 points thus far this season, averaging 17.78, ranking 3rd in the conference.
Along with their presence above the rim, Jakiel Wells has aided the Bears to 144 steals on the season, good enough for 11th in the NAIA.

TIGERS UPSET #4

In their last time out the Tigers electrified the crowd at the Powell Athletic Center after taking a 72-66 win over the Bears of Pikeville.
Mason did a little of everything in this match finishing with a game-high 22 points, while adding eight assists, six rebounds, two steals, and a blocked shot.
Richie Mitchell and Ronald Taylor also put together double digit performances with 14 and 13 points a piece.
After a career-high 19 points on 4-6 from deep, Alston Davis' hand stayed hot, with a 3-4 3-pt performance to finish with nine.

ROLL TIGERS ROLL

Despite 3rd leading scorer, David Simmons, the Tigers have rolled into post-Christmas basketball on a six game win streak.
Playing to a 8-5 record before the Tigers headed home for the Christmas season, Campbellsville returned to the court for five straight wins.
As CU visited the University of the Cumberlands for a weekend classic, meeting Miami Hamilton and Carver, the Tigers had to grit their teeth for two wins, due to a load of injuries.
Following the classic, the Tigers started returning to action, in a brutal stretch of MSC play with wins over Cumberland, Life, and Pikeville in the span of five days.
Through these three straight conference wins, CU has outscored opponents, by 15.67 ppg. behind 17.3 ppg from Taiveyhon Mason and 14.67 from Richie Mitchell.

DEFENSE SPARKS THE TIGERS

Campbellsville has found their success when defense plays strong, as they are 13-2 when holding opponents to under 50% shooting and 12-1 when opponents shoot less than 35% from three.
Throughout their six game win streak, the Tigers have only given up 59.1 ppg.
Allowing 66.2 ppg. on the season, CU currently ranks 10th in the NAIA.
Campbellsville also ranks 12th in the NAIA with 142 steals on the season, led by Mason's 36.

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 40-14 overall record, highlighted by a 15-2 record last season.
This season, the Tigers have gone 8-3 at home, with two of their three losses coming within three points, including a win over the fourth ranked Pikeville Bears.
CU has won five consecutive home games, dating back to Nov. 23.

TIGER CLAWZ

The Tigers have hit a 3-pointer in 536-straight games dating back to the beginning of the 2003-04 season on Dakstats.
Taiveyhon Mason ranks 11th in the NAIA in steals with 34 and No. 27 with 2.0 steals per game.
Mason is 1.0 rebounds away to lead CU in these per game categories - points, assists, steals, and rebounds.

UPCOMING STRETCH

This game marks the second of a four game stretch of home games for the Tigers.
Following this game, Campbellsville will return to the Powell Athletic Center on Thursday, Jan. 16th against the University of the Cumberlands a 8 p.m. ET.
The Tigers will then stay home to try and play the upset alert again as the country's top ranked Georgetown Tigers roll into town on Jan. 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.

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Players Mentioned

#32 Andrew Smith: F; 6' 10"; Senior; Johnson City, Tenn.

#14 Stephaun Adams: G; 6' 1"; Senior; Virgin Islands

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

#3 Alston Davis: F; 6' 6"; Junior; Concord, N.C.

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

#21 David Simmons: G; 6' 3"; Senior; Henderson, Ky.

#23 Richie Mitchell: G; 6' 1"; Senior; Michigan City, Ind.

Players Mentioned

#32 Andrew Smith
: 6' 10"; Senior; Johnson City, Tenn.
: F

#14 Stephaun Adams
: 6' 1"; Senior; Virgin Islands
: G

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

#3 Alston Davis
: 6' 6"; Junior; Concord, N.C.
: F

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

#21 David Simmons
: 6' 3"; Senior; Henderson, Ky.
: G

#23 Richie Mitchell
: 6' 1"; Senior; Michigan City, Ind.
: G