RIO GRANDE, Ohio – The Campbellsville University men's basketball team took on the University of Rio Grande RedStorm on Saturday night for the second day of the Bevo Francis Classic. Overcoming a double-digit second-half deficit, Campbellsville closed the weekend with a gritty 66-62 victory to remain perfect on the season.
- Four Tigers scored in double figures: Jay Milburn (15), Eli Brooks (12), and Dalton Kramer and TyShay Epps (10 each).
- Milburn led the team in field goals, shooting an efficient 7-of-11 from the floor, while Parker Jones led the team on the glass with six rebounds.
- Campbellsville outperformed Rio Grande in several key statistical categories, including points in the paint (30-22) and points off turnovers (12-5).
- The Tigers' defense was opportunistic, forcing eight turnovers and recording six steals, four of which came from Kramer.
- The Tigers now hold a three-game win streak against the RedStorm and have not lost a game against Rio Grande since 2014.
- Campbellsville will be back in action taking on the Warner University Royals at the annual "The Show" on Saturday, November 29th, in Kingsport, Tennessee, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Throughout the opening minutes, both teams fought a close battle for the lead. Although Rio Grande stayed consistently in front, Campbellsville never fell far behind. Both teams brought heavy action into the paint, trading layups in a physical opening half. Eli Brooks was the catalyst early, scoring 10 of his 12 points in the first 20 minutes to keep the Tigers' scoring consistent.
Javaughn Smith attacked with a three-pointer to briefly take the lead for Campbellsville, 23-20, at the 4:08 mark. However, Tiger turnovers returned the lead to the RedStorm. Marcellus Vail reclaimed the upper hand in the closing seconds of the half with a layup, giving Campbellsville a slim 30-29 lead heading into the break.
Coming into the second half, Rio Grande used an 11-0 run to build their largest lead of the game at 51-40. Despite the RedStorm surging ahead by 11, Jay Milburn and the Tigers weathered the storm, answering with skillful baskets in the paint, including a dunk that cut the deficit to 51-45.
As the second half unfolded, the Tigers battled their way back into the contest. Parker Jones provided a massive spark with a steal and a dunk to narrow the gap to 56-54. Moments later, TyShay Epps sank a critical deep ball to give Campbellsville a 59-56 lead.
Epps connected from deep again on a later possession to push the Tigers' lead to 66-58, widening the advantage and pushing Rio Grande further away. Although the RedStorm connected on late jumpers to pull within four, Campbellsville's defense held firm. Dalton Kramer secured a rebound in the final seconds to cap off the defensive stand, and the Tigers closed out the 66-62 victory.
