OAKLAND CITY, Ind. – The Campbellsville University men's basketball team traveled to the Johnson Center on Monday afternoon to open the Oakland City University Dunn Hospitality Group Classic against Indiana University Kokomo. Despite a strong defensive effort that forced 17 turnovers, the Tigers struggled to find their rhythm offensively, falling to the Cougars, 65-50.
- Dalton Kramer led the Tigers' offense with 12 points, shooting 5-of-7 from the field (71.4%).
- Ra Briggs provided a spark off the bench, knocking down two three-pointers and pulling down a team-high eight rebounds while matching Taveon Smith with two blocks.
- TyShay Epps was a defensive menace, swiping a game-high five steals to go along with three assists.
- Despite the loss, Campbellsville excelled in key categories, outperforming IU Kokomo in bench points (26-15), blocks (6-2), and points off turnovers (19-10).
- Shooting woes plagued the Tigers, as they finished the game shooting just 32.8% from the field compared to the Cougars' 39.6%.
- The Tigers will be back in action tomorrow, Tuesday, December 30th, to battle the Indiana University East Red Wolves on the second day of the classic, beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
The Tigers opened the game trading baskets with the Cougars. After falling behind 3-0 early, Dalton Kramer leveled the score with a three-pointer assisted by Javaughn Smith. The teams battled back and forth in the early minutes, with Marcellus Vail tying the game at 7-7 on a driving layup midway through the opening stanza.
However, IU Kokomo began to pull away midway through the first half. A 12-7 run by the Cougars pushed their lead to 19-14. Ra Briggs connected on a three-pointer to cut the deficit to two, 21-19, but the Cougars responded with a decisive run to close the half. The Tigers struggled to convert from the field late in the period, and IU Kokomo took a 36-23 advantage into the locker room.
Coming into the second half, the Tigers looked to chip away at the deficit with increased defensive pressure. TyShay Epps recorded a steal, and Taveon Smith added a layup to try to spark a rally. Evan Frederick provided solid minutes off the bench, scoring four points and grabbing an offensive board.
Despite Campbellsville holding the Cougars to just 34.5% shooting in the second half and forcing multiple turnovers, they were unable to close the gap. IU Kokomo extended its lead to as many as 18 points, 52-34, with under eight minutes to play.
Late threes from Smith and Epps narrowed the gap, but the Cougars held firm for a 65-50 win. Campbellsville's reserves were a bright spot, outscoring IU Kokomo's bench 26-15, with Briggs scoring 8 and Smith 7.
