WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – The Tigers took to the road to take on the West Virginia Tech Golden Bears on Friday for day two of the Cumberlands Classic. Capitalizing on WVU Tech's turnovers with more than double their points off turnovers (15-7), Campbellsville took its fifth consecutive victory of the season, 81-76.
- Four Tigers reached double digits: Marcellus Vail (22), Dalton Kramer (19), Jay Milburn (14), and Eli Brooks (13).
- Brooks led the team with eight rebounds, Taveon Smith had a team-high five assists, and Kramer led the game with four steals.
- Campbellsville overpowered WVU Tech in key categories: steals (10-3), points off turnovers (15-7), and second-chance points (17-6).
- Tonight's win is the Tigers' first against the Golden Bears since 2013.
- Campbellsville extended its record to 5-0, the best start to a season since the 2018-2019 team began 13-0.
- The Tigers (5-0) will be back in action, hosting the Truett McConnell University Bears on Friday, November 14th, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
The opening minutes consisted of an exchange of baskets, but
Jay Milburn earned Campbellsville the lead from the free-throw line to make it 9-6.
Eli Brooks preserved the Tigers' advantage with a layup and a dunk, extending the lead to 13-10.
Halfway through the first half, WVU Tech stole the lead, 18-17. However, the bench unit ignited a run, as
Marcellus Vail and
Taveon Smith came in to hit a jumper and a three-pointer, respectively, reclaiming the upper hand, 25-22. The Golden Bears' swift jumpers kept them close, but the Tigers' defense, including steals from Brooks and Smith, continued to return the ball to Campbellsville.
Parker Jones came into the game with crucial defensive rebounds, and the Tigers' offense surged. Vail hit two more three-pointers, his last one giving Campbellsville its largest lead of the game, 44-29, with 2:56 left in the half. The Tigers went into the second leading by ten, 44-34.
In the opening moments of the second half, WVU Tech scored a three, only to be answered by a three from
Dalton Kramer. The Tigers' bench continued to propel the offense, with layups from Vail and Jones maintaining the lead. WVU Tech came storming back, using a 12-4 run to cut the deficit to just two points, 64-62, with 6:18 remaining. The Golden Bears eventually tied the game 72-72 on three free throws with 1:05 to play.
The Tigers only strengthened at the sight of push-back. On the ensuing possession, Vail (who was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field, 2-for-2 from three, and 6-for-6 from the line) was fouled and hit both free throws. The Golden Bears' fouls in the final minute only added to Campbellsville's advantage, as Kramer hit four straight from the charity stripe and Milburn added one to take the game, 81-76.
