COLUMBIA, Ky. – Campbellsville University erased a nine-point deficit in the closing minutes but could not complete the comeback Friday, falling 61-60 to Carolina University at Biggers Sports Center.
- Tyran Cook led Campbellsville with 19 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, finishing one rebound shy of a double-double while committing only one turnover in 38 minutes.
- Dalton Kramer added 14 points and a game-high five steals without a turnover. His 3-pointer with 3:21 remaining pulled the Tigers within 59-58.
- Campbellsville led 35-27 at halftime after shooting 50% from the field, but the Tigers were held to 30.8% in the second half and made one of six attempts from beyond the arc.
- The Tigers generated 17 points from 14 Carolina turnovers while surrendering only six points off their nine giveaways. Campbellsville finished with 11 steals.
- Campbellsville held advantages in points in the paint, 32-14, and second-chance scoring, 11-6, while outrebounding Carolina 35-34.
- Free-throw efficiency proved costly for the Tigers, who went 11-of-22 at the line, including 3-of-8 in the opening half.
- Carolina shot 40% from 3-point range and connected on five second-half triples, while Campbellsville finished 3-of-16 from distance.
Campbellsville scored the game's first four points on baskets by Cook and Kramer before Carolina moved ahead 7-4. Cook answered with a 3-pointer, and the Tigers used an 11-2 run to build a 20-13 advantage midway through the first half.
The Tigers continued to find success inside as
Cannon Young,
Eli Brooks, Kramer, and
Hayden Blakeman contributed during the run. Carolina cut the margin to one with 3:47 remaining, but Campbellsville answered with nine consecutive points. Kramer scored five during the stretch, including a 3-pointer, before Young's putback at the buzzer sent the Tigers into halftime with a 35-27 lead.
Carolina opened the second half with a 9-1 run and tied the game at 36. The teams exchanged the lead before consecutive baskets by Noah Jones gave the Bruins a 42-39 advantage with 14:59 remaining.
Cook tied the game at 42 with a steal and layup, and Young briefly restored Campbellsville's lead with a basket inside. Carolina responded with three consecutive 3-pointers, however, turning a two-point deficit into a 51-44 advantage. Will Dixion's layup later gave the Bruins their largest lead, 53-44, with 8:24 to play.
Campbellsville worked back into contention through its defense. A Binford putback cut the margin to four, and Kramer followed a steal with a 3-pointer to make it 59-58 with 3:21 remaining. The Tigers forced three turnovers over the final 4:13 but could not capitalize with the go-ahead basket.
After DJ Evans made two free throws with 24 seconds left, Cook drove for a layup to pull Campbellsville within 61-60. Israel Griffin missed a free throw with 11 seconds remaining, giving the Tigers a final opportunity, but Cook's jumper in the closing seconds did not fall as Carolina held on for the one-point victory.
