CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Campbellsville University Tigers hosted Montreat College on Saturday afternoon. In the first-ever match-up between the two teams, the Cavaliers capitalized on the Tigers' offensive struggles, winning 81-77.
Jay Milburn scored the first points of the match-up, and Chandler Clements followed with a three-pointer, assisted by Tyshay Epps, to give the Tigers an early 7-2 lead over the Cavaliers. Not long after, the Cavaliers took control of the lead, 14-13, working their way back with two three-pointers and a putback. Montreat went on a 5-0 run before Jace Wallace put up a layup of his own.
With the Tigers down 22-19, Tyrelle Hunt went to the line, making both after an offensive rebound to continue the possession. Before the end of the first half, the Cavaliers had an eight-point advantage over the Tigers.
The Tigers struggled offensively in the first half, shooting 8-29 (27.6%) from field-goal range and 2-11 (18.2%) from three-point range. On the positive side, the Tigers have maintained control to limit the number of turnovers in the first half with five compared to the Cavaliers' ten.
Much like the first, Milburn started things for the Tigers to open the second half. Milburn was followed by baskets from Darius Harding, Clements, and Wallace. Montreat went on another 5-0 run and was stopped by back-to-back buckets from Cobe Penny. Free throws from Penny, Milburn, and Harding cut the Cavaliers' lead to two points, 56-54.
Penny, assisted by Wallace, sent the game-tying shot through the net to tie the game at 56-56 with less than five minutes left of play. With 4:30 left in the game, a dunk from Harding gave the lead back to the Tigers for the first time since the clock had 8:20 left in the first half.
Milburn, assisted by Hunt, and Hunt, assisted by Wallace, gave the Tigers a four-point lead. The Cavaliers answered back with a three-pointer and another basket to leave the score at 63-62 in favor of the Cavaliers, with less than a minute on the clock.
Wallace was sent to the line to shoot two and made both, 64-63. The Cavaliers took back the lead with a three-pointer, 66-64. With 6.5 seconds left in the game, Wallace was back at the line, making both to tie the game at 66-66. The Cavaliers' attempt to shoot one more before the time expired was unsuccessful and sent the game into overtime.
The Tigers and Cavaliers were both unsuccessful in their first possessions of the overtime period. Yet again, Wallace was sent to the line and gave the Tigers a two-point lead, 68-66. Milburn made one of his two free throws, putting the Tigers up by one point, 69-68. Wallace tied the game at 71-71. Wallace added to the team score with a three-pointer, but it wasn't enough to walk away with the win. The final score ended in favor of the Cavaliers, 81-77.
Wallace led the way for the Tigers with 19 points, five assists, four rebounds, and four steals. Milburn had 16 points, six rebounds, two steals, and one assist.
The Tigers will be back in action on Thursday, February 1st, in Georgetown, Kentucky, to take on Georgetown College. The game is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.
