CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - As Campbellsville looks to honor its senior class in
Kevin Kangni,
Ronald Taylor,
David Simmons, and
Richie Mitchell, they will have a tough meeting the MSC's third place team, Thomas More.
Taylor and Mitchell have played huge roles thus far this year, as the Taylor leads the team in rebounds and Mitchell leads the Tigers in points throughout conference play. With Simmons recently returning to the Tiger lineup, CU will need to heavily rely on their seniors in their last game in the Powell to try and pickup their third straight MSC win over one of the country's best defensive teams.
HOW TO WATCH
SERIES FACTS
- As Thomas More is an NAIA and Mid-South Conference newcomer, this matchup becomes the first time the Saints will visit the Powell Athletic Center since 1991.
- Overall, in 25 meetings, the Tigers have led the series over TMU, 15-10, but dropped their lone meeting previously this season.
- In the lowest scoring game for Campbellsville this season, CU, was only able to notch 46 points when the visited Crestview Hills for the first time this millennium.
- However, the Tigers were also able to limit the Saints to 52 points in a slow paced defensive fight.
- In the meeting, only three players recorded double figures, as Luke Rudy of TMU led the way with 17 points. Richie Mitchell followed with 14 points of his own.
SCOUTING THE SAINTS
- Campbellsville's low scoring output in the first meeting was not just a fluke, as the Saints lead the NAIA in points allowed per game, only giving up 62.7 ppg.
- This has helped propel TMU to a 20-6 record, playing 7-5 inside the MSC for third place in the standings.
- Led by 6.5 rebounds per contest from Reid Jolly, the Saints have also had success on the defensive glass, recording 29.64 rebounds per game, ranking them among the top five in the NAIA.
- Jolly has also led Thomas More in scoring, averaging 15.13 ppg. behind 50.9% shooting from the field.
- As a whole, Thomas More also ranks among the top 15 NAIA teams in fg% (0.492), opponent 3-pt. fg% (0.313), and opponent fg% (0.411).
BIG GAMES FROM THE BIG FELLA
- Gaining more minutes off the bench, De'Undra Singleton has put together his best basketball as a Tiger over the past four games.
- Off the bench for the Tigers, Singleton has been able to record four of his six double digit scoring performances in the last four games for CU.
- In the match up with the Phoenix, the big man worked in efficient fashion shooting 8-9 from the field.
- In the game against Shawnee State, however, Singleton worked himself to the line and capitalized, going on to make 11 free throws in 12 attempts.
DAVIS FROM DEEP
- After slight struggles from behind the arc to start the season, Alston Davis has begun 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' Mid-South Conference meetings.
- After exploding for four 3-pointers in the first half against Life, Davis has went 27-54 from deep in the last six games, shooting at a 50% clip.
- On the season, Davis has recorded a 3-ptr. in every game outside of Ohio State-Mansfield and Oakwood University.
DEFENSE SPARKS THE TIGERS
- CU has shown they are one of the NAIA's top defensive programs ranking in the top 20 in turnover margin (3.26), opponent ppg (67.56), opponent fg% (0.409),and opponent 3-pt fg% (0.319).
- The ability to limit opponent opportunities and create their own has become the marker for CU, as they currently boast a 13-1 record when shooting better than their opponent.
- Campbellsville also ranks 26th in the NAIA with 203 steals on the season, led by Mason's 55.
TIGER CLAWZ
- The Tigers have hit a 3-pointer in 545-straight games dating back to the beginning of the 2003-04 season on Dakstats.
- Taiveyhon Mason ranks 13th in the NAIA in steals with 55 and No. 18 with 2.04 steals per game.
- Mason is 1.2 rebounds away to lead CU in these per game categories - points, assists, steals, and rebounds.
- Through conference play, Richie Mitchell leads the team in points per game (13.4).
MID-SOUTH RANKINGS
- CU currently holds a 6-7 MSC record, in a tie for fifth with LWC.
- With the conference games remaining, each win can be crucial in determining the seeding spot for the Tigers in the MSC tournament.
UPCOMING STRETCH
- Following this game, the Tigers will head on the road to meeting the top two teams in the Mid-South with Georgetown on Feb. 22 at 4 p.m. ET and the University of the Cumberlands on Feb. 29th at 4 p.m. ET.
