CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.– The Campbellsville University Tigers matched up against Bethel University Saturday afternoon at Powell Athletic Center. After the 76-72 Wildcats win, Campbellsville slips to 1-4 in conference play on the season.
The Tigers were first to appear on the board with two shots from the free-throw line. Campbellsville lost their lead and did not gain it again as Bethel began to put shots together. The Wildcats put pressure on the Tigers in the upper court, creating difficulty for Campbellsville to score. Jace Wallace shortened the Tiger deficit with a layup, but then two minutes of play went by without a single point made by either team. The Wildcats ended the drought with two free throws. The Tigers had fallen behind seven points as five minutes remained in the half. Bethel found themselves leading by double-digits with the Tigers entering the half trailing 38-37.
Campbellsville had 19 opportunities at the free throw line at the half compared to the Wildcats' nine chances. However, the Tigers shot 57.9 percent from the area versus Bethel's 77.8 percent. The Wildcats were out-rebounding the Tigers with 24 boards compared to Campbellsville's 16.
Campbellsville worked back from their discrepancy with solid defense, but Bethel kept attacking the gaps. The Tigers struggled to work their way out of the Wildcats' lead, but remained steadfast. Campbellsville was zero for nine from the three-point line and acquired a large portion of their points from free throws. However, the Tigers were shooting 60% from the stripe with 13 missed shots. Keaston Brown made the first three of the night for the Tigers and Brown's bucket brought Campbellsville within a three-possession game. Jarius Key pulled up from the arc, and his bucket shortened the Tigers' shortfall to five points. With two minutes remaining, Malachi De Sousa scored a crucial layup and drew a foul. De Sousa's free-throw effort was unsuccessful, and the Wildcats led 71-67. The Tigers were down by six points with 22 seconds of play left. Javaughn Smith sunk a three-point bucket to ring in a three-point discrepancy. Fouling intentionally, the Wildcats stepped up to the charity stripe with one second remaining and solidified a 76-72 win over the Tigers.
As the competition concluded, Bethel outrebounded the Tigers 49 to 28. The Wildcats moved the ball around the court with 16 assists as Campbellsville amasses only eight assists on the night. Muhammad tallied 21 points and seven rebounds, De Sousa with 17 points and six rebounds, and Key followed with ten points and six rebounds.
The Tigers will return to action on Thursday, December 8th. Campbellsville will host the University of the Cumberlands with tip-off to set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
