BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Campbellsville University connected on 11 3-pointers but could not overcome Western Kentucky University's pressure and interior advantage Tuesday, falling 78-51 in an exhibition matchup at E.A. Diddle Arena.
- Dalton Kramer and Cannon Young led Campbellsville with 10 points apiece. Kramer added five rebounds, while Young shot 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.
- The Tigers made 11 of 26 attempts from 3-point range, finishing at 42.3%. Campbellsville shot better than 40% from deep in each half.
- Taveon Smith scored six points on two 3-pointers while contributing three rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal.
- Campbellsville's reserves accounted for 28 of the Tigers' 51 points. Young led the bench production, while Donavyn Knox scored six points on two 3-pointers.
- Western Kentucky turned Campbellsville's 24 turnovers into 32 points. The Hilltoppers committed nine turnovers and allowed nine points off those miscues.
- The Hilltoppers held advantages of 48-10 in paint scoring, 22-2 in second-chance points, and 42-30 on the glass after collecting 14 offensive rebounds.
- Campbellsville held Western Kentucky to 6-of-23 shooting from beyond the arc, including a 2-of-13 mark in the second half.
Western Kentucky scored the opening basket before Kramer connected on consecutive 3-pointers, the second coming off a
Tyran Cook assist, to put Campbellsville ahead 7-4 with 15:41 remaining in the first half.
The Hilltoppers responded with seven straight points, but Smith's transition 3-pointer pulled the Tigers within 11-10. Western Kentucky then generated consecutive baskets off Campbellsville turnovers and extended its lead to 20-12.
Campbellsville remained within reach behind its perimeter shooting. Smith made his second 3-pointer,
Eli Brooks converted a dunk following a Smith assist, and Young knocked down a 3-pointer to reduce the deficit to 25-20 with 4:40 left in the half. Young later scored on a putback to bring the Tigers within five.
Western Kentucky closed the half with an 8-0 run, including an Emondrek Erkins-Ford 3-pointer off a turnover, to take a 35-22 advantage into the locker room.
Cook opened the second-half scoring with a driving layup, but the Hilltoppers answered with three consecutive baskets to extend the margin to 41-24. Kramer stopped the run with a pull-up jumper before
Aeramiah Binford and Cook scored on consecutive possessions, keeping Campbellsville within 47-32.
Western Kentucky created the decisive separation with an 11-0 run fueled by its defense and work on the offensive glass. The Hilltoppers forced five turnovers during the stretch and scored six points directly from those extra possessions, building a 58-32 advantage with 9:13 remaining.
Young answered with a layup and his second 3-pointer before Kramer scored in transition to make it 60-39. Western Kentucky responded with eight straight points, however, and pushed the margin to 29.
Benjamin Yombi and Knox connected from deep during the closing minutes. After the Hilltoppers reached their largest lead at 33, Knox made his second 3-pointer, and
Ken Sallee scored from beyond the arc to account for the final margin.
