CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Tigers hosted #20 Cumberland University Thursday evening. Campbellsville left Powell Athletic Center victorious with a 77-68 win over the Phoenix.
Campbellsville stepped up to the free-throw line only 30 seconds into play. Malik Muhammad knocked down the first two baskets to put the Tigers ahead. The Phoenix struck back with buckets of their own, trading the lead with the Tigers. Cumberland then strung together a ten-point run. Campbellsville began to scratch at their trail with consecutive threes delivered by Jace Wallace and Jay Milburn. Keaston Brown approached the charity stripe and regained the lead, nailing both shots. Campbellsville allowed little room for the Phoenix to retaliate as they increased Cumberland's discrepancy. Malachi De Sousa went for back-to-back buckets to gain the Tigers a double-digit lead. De Sousa returned to the rim twice more to lead the Tigers into the half 40-31 over Cumberland.
Campbellsville tallied 57.7% from the field, whereas Cumberland fell short with 44.8% in the category. De Sousa led with 11 points, while Brown trailed closely with nine and two rebounds. Wallace collected six rebounds at the half.
The second half of the play consisted of more formidable defenses and less scoring. Jordan Graham sank a three-point basket, followed by a jump shot from Muhammad to propel the Tigers forward. However, the Phoenix acquired big buckets to shrink their trail to one point. Not long after, the score was tied at 54, but Javaughn Smith settled the lead with a three-point basket from the far-left corner. With two minutes remaining, Campbellsville led 62-61. The Phoenix tied the match at 63 with 43 seconds left in the competition. The Tigers finished regulation still tied and entered overtime.
To start overtime, Cumberland failed their first attempt at a shot. The Tigers had a chance at the free throw as Brown placed the Tigers ahead by one. De Sousa scored the following three buckets, which poised Campbellsville for a four-point lead. With one minute remaining, Smith stepped up to the stripe. Smith knocked down the first shot but missed the second. However, Smith recovered as he collected his own rebound to give the Tigers back possession. Cumberland attempted to foul but only allowed Campbellsville to ramp up their lead by sending them to the free throw line again. The Tigers stole away with the 77-68 win over the Phoenix.
De Sousa led his team with 21 points and nine rebounds. Brown followed suit with 14 points and three rebounds. Wallace trailed with 10 points and eight rebounds, and Milburn collected ten points and seven rebounds.
The Tigers will host the University of Tennessee Southern this Saturday, January 21st. The match will be hosted in Powell Athletic Center with tip-off at 3 p.m. ET.
