LEBANON, Tenn. – The Tigers traveled to Tennessee to take on Cumberland University Phoenix Saturday. Despite the Tigers' efforts to hold the lead after the first half, the Phoenix came out victorious, 79-74.
Cumberland began the contest with a nine-point run, preventing Campbellsville from getting any baskets. Jay Milburn was first to get the Tigers on the scoreboard, going two-for-two at the free-throw line. The Phoenix's offense remained too strong for Campbellsville to deter from the basket. The Tigers only scored again with Cameron Willis at the charity stripe, yet to connect from the field. Shortly after, Noah Gordon came off the bench, scoring the first Tiger field goal of the game. With only two minutes left in the first half, Keaston Brown returned to the court for the first time since October, connecting on a three-pointer as Campbellsville moved past Cumberland for the first time in the contest. At the end of the first 20 minutes of play, the Tigers led the game, 35-33.
Although the Tigers only held the lead for 1:40 (8.3%) of the first half, the Tigers' lineup proved more diverse than that of the Phoenix, collecting 17 bench points to their two. Furthermore, Campbellsville was shooting 8% better from the field (48% to 40%).
The Phoenix opened the second half tying the score with a layup. However, Milburn quickly retaliated with a dunk, clawing the Tigers back ahead. As the half developed, Campbellsville continued to expand their advantage bucket-after-bucket, leaving Cumberland trailing, but not ever too severe a deficit. With just over eight minutes remaining, the Phoenix tied the score at 52 with a three-point basket, and quickly thereafter reclaimed the lead. Both teams kept going back-and-forth mostly remaining only a point away, but with a six-point run, Cumberland was able to sustain a slight cushion the rest of the way. Willis and Brown decreased the Tigers' deficit with only a minute left on the clock, battling hard against the Phoenix for the win, but it wasn't enough as the Phoenix were victorious, 79-74.
At the end of the game, both teams were nearly identical in multiple statistics (namely, field goal percentage, three-point percentage, turnovers, second chance points, and points in the paint), reflective of just how tight the battle was. Four Tigers reached double digits in the game: Wallace with 14 points, Cobe Penny with 13, Willis with 12 (matching his season-high), and Harding with 11.
The Tigers will be back in action hosting the Bethel University Wildcats on Thursday, January 18th, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.
