Men's Basketball 1/21/2020 1:43:00 PM CU Athletics

Tigers battle as CU hosts the NAIA's top opponent Georgetown College

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Campbellsville seeks for a major upset win as they close their homestand with the NAIA's top ranked team Thursday evening.

Game day marks a 343 days since Georgetown last lost a game, but it also marks the last time GC visited the Powell Athletic Center. After upsetting the fourth ranked Tigers of GC last year, Campbellsville will look to turn around their cold spell of late with a huge win of the NAIA's top team. With a win over the fourth ranked Pikeville Bears to begin this four game homestand, CU will look for their second major upset to close the stretch before heading on the road to Thomas More this weekend.

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

One shy of the century mark, this matchup is the 99th meeting between the Tigers since 1979.
Overall, Georgetown has overwhelmingly dominated the series holding a record of 76-22 over CU highlighted by a 13 game winning streak from 2000-2005.
Last season, CU and GC met three times with the final matchup coming in the Mid-South Conference tournament semifinal as GC eliminated CU, 86-79.
However, in Georgetown's last visit to the Powell Athletic Center, Campbellsville put together an 80-71 win to upset the fourth ranked GC Tigers.
In this matchup, CU put four players in double figures led by 22 from Stephaun Adams and another 18 coming from Andrew Smith.
This win marked Coach Vernon's lone home win over GC in his tenure and Campbellsville's second home win over Georgetown since 2012.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS

Over the years Georgetown has developed into a national powerhouse, and this season has been no different as they are one of two undefeated teams left in the NAIA, boasting a 17-0 record.
Coming off of their 2019 NAIA National Championship, GC entered the season as the country's first ranked team and they have maintained that as they have outscored their opponents by over 30 points per game.
GC has earned their wins by efficient play on both sides of the court, as they rank first in the NAIA in fg% (0.531) and second in opponent fg% (0.368).
These numbers have helped GC to the second highest scoring offense, averaging 97.35 ppg., and a top 10 ranking in scoring defense, holding opponents to 65.77 ppg.
Georgetown has also been able to grab boards at an excellent rate, using 45.29 rebounds per game to out rebound opponents by 14 boards per matchup.
Chris Coffey has led this effort as his 12.71 rebounds per game lead the NAIA, coupled with Kyran Jones, who ranks 18th in offensive rebounds per game.
After missing a month and a half, Nico Clareth, the Tigers leading scorer has returned to the lineup, averaging 20.09 ppg.
GC has four other players averaging in double figures with Jacob Conway, Jake Ohmer, and Coffey all totaling north of 16 ppg.
Eljay Cowherd is the other player in double figures with 12.9 ppg., as he also rankers third in the country in assists with 7.35.

DAVIS FROM DEEP

After slight struggles from behind the arc to start the season, Alston Davis has began to develop into the Tigers' most consistent presence from behind the arc.
Shooting just 26-75 from three in the first 16 games of the year for a 34.67% clip, AD has heated up in the Tigers' last four Mid-South Conference meetings.
After exploding for four 3-pointers in the first half against Life, Davis has went 10-18 from deep in the last three games, shooting at a 55.6% clip.

DEFENSE SPARKS THE TIGERS

Campbellsville has found their success when defense plays strong, as they are 13-4 when holding opponents to under 50% shooting and 12-2 when opponents shoot less than 35% from three.
Allowing 68.1 ppg. on the season, CU currently ranks 17th in the NAIA.
Campbellsville also ranks 14th in the NAIA with 159 steals on the season, led by Mason's 40.

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 40-16 overall record, highlighted by a 14-2 record last season.
This season, the Tigers have gone 7-5 at home, with two of their four losses coming within three points.

TIGER CLAWZ

The Tigers have hit a 3-pointer in 538-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 668-540. The second half has been their nemesis only outscoring opponents, 729-662.
Taiveyhon Mason ranks 12th in the NAIA in steals with 40 and No. 25 with 2.0 steals per game.
Mason is 0.8 rebounds away to lead CU in these per game categories - points, assists, steals, and rebounds.
Through conferene play, Richie Mitchell leads the team in points per game (14).

UPCOMING STRETCH

This game marks the end of CU's four game home stint, leaving three games left at the Powell Athletic Center this season.
Following this game, the Tigers will travel to Thomas More on Saturday for the program's first meeting since 1991.

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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

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

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

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

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

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