CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Tigers played their last regular season game Saturday afternoon. They faced the #8 Thomas More University Saints in the Powell Athletic Center and the Tigers fell to the Saints 76-66.
To start off the game, the Tigers were the first ones on the board with a layup from
Keaston Brown. Three minutes into the game,
Ross Ryan had two quick fouls which brought
Jarius Key into the game. Thomas More hit two back-to-back threes gaving them a seven-point lead.
Jace Wallace answered with three buckets in a row, the last one being a three-pointer. Campbellsville started to creep into the Saint's advantage with a 6-0 run by
Peyton Broughton. The Tigers were down three and then
Sam Weining made a huge shot from deep to tie the game at 20. Thomas More made a few buckets when the Tigers didn't and started to pull away once again. With one minute left in the first half, the Tigers were down 12. Wallace attempted to beat the buzzer on their last possession but he couldn't find the bottom of the net. The Tigers trailed the Saints 37-25 at the half.
Thomas More opened up the second half with the first basket. Both teams found themselves at the free throw line often. Wallace recorded an and-one which brought the Tigers back in a single-digit deficit. The Saints answered that with a three-point basket of their own. Every time the Tigers attempted to cut into the lead, TMU would answer with another basket. With five minutes left in the game, Wallace was back at the free throw line and knocked down both. Then, the Tigers got the ball back and De Sousa made a three which made the Tigers down by eight. The Saints answered with a layup, but Weining would hit another big three which brought the Tigers within seven. The Tigers became locked-in on defense and Broughton drew a charge which gave the ball back to CU. That resulted in De Sousa back at the free throw line where he made one of two free throws. Broughton then created another defensive stop as he stole the ball and made a fast break layup. The Saints made another three but
Cameron Carmical answered with a three of his own resulting in the Tigers trailing by three. Campbellsville started to attack the rim and attempted once again to take the lead. De Sousa found himself at the stripe again, making one of two and the Tigers were within two points. Broughton hit another big shot which gave the Tigers their first lead since the score was 4-2 in the opening half. Key came back in the game and scored his first bucket which gave the Tigers a three-point lead. Thomas More started to make a few unanswered baskets and took the lead and expanded it, 70-59. With two minutes and 50 seconds left in the game, TMU got a shot clock violation which gave the ball back to the Tigers. Broughton made another layup and shortened the Tiger's deficit to seven. Campbellsville fouled which put TMU in the bonus and they made both free throws. In the final seconds of the game, Carmical hit another three which ended up being the last play of the game. The Tigers fell to the Saints, 76-66.
The Tigers were led in scoring by Broughton and Wallace with 19 points each. They were followed by De Sousa with eight points, Weining with six, Ryan with four, Carmical with three, Brown and Key with two points each.
The Tigers will be back in action in the Mid-South Conference opening round on Tuesday, February 22
nd.
