CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Tigers began their annual Thanksgiving Classic with a 79-60 victory over the Webber International Warriors Friday night.
 
As the Tigers tipped off and possession was theirs, Darius Harding was on the court for his first start of the season. A 9-1 run by Campbellsville looked to set the tone early in the contest but Webber stormed back to knot it a nine a piece. Both Harding and Peyton Broughton carried the offensive torch in the first with 11 points each while Javaughn Smith followed just behind netting three three-pointers for nine points of his own. The Tigers reached a 16-point lead, their widest margin of the first half, with two minutes remaining and would climb to 19 when the buzzer sounded.
 
The Tigers were terrific on defense in the opening half holding the Warriors to only 35% shooting from the field and forcing 10 Webber turnovers. Campbellsville was also finding the open man recording more than double the amount compared to their opponent (13-6). The lead could have been greater, but the Tigers weren't able to capitalize on many of their opportunities from deep hitting only six of 18.
 
The second half proved to be a much more competitive affair. Comfortable play led the Tigers to commit more turnovers than they did in the first 20 minutes. Still, Campbellsville was able to hold Webber to just 35% shooting for the game. As a result, both teams would end up scoring 38 points. Campbellsville would head into the second day of the Thanksgiving Classic with the same lead at the end of the game as they had at halftime: 19 points.
 
Broughton and Harding would finish with 19 points and 14 points respectively while Harding and Jarius Key led the team in rebounds with 10 each. Jace Wallace wasn't the scoring dynamo he had been this season so far but was still creating offense as both he and Keaston Brown had 6 assists for the Tigers.
 
The Tigers will take the court again Saturday November 27^th at 4 p.m. ET to face off against the Indiana University Southeast Grenadiers to finish the Thanksgiving Classic. These two teams played just a couple of weeks ago and Campbellsville was victorious 94-86.