MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Campbellsville University men's basketball team traveled to Crisp Arena on Thursday night for a Mid-South Conference battle against the Bethel University Wildcats. Despite placing five players in double figures, the Tigers could not overcome a massive disparity in bench production, falling to the Wildcats, 84-75.
- Five Tigers scored in double digits during the contest: Jay Milburn (17 points), Marcellus Vail (14), Dalton Kramer (13), Ra Briggs (11), and Parker Jones (10).
- Milburn paced the Tigers on the glass with a team-high nine rebounds, including six on the offensive end.
- Taveon Smith facilitated the offense with a team-leading four assists, while Eli Brooks anchored the defense with two blocks and two steals.
- Despite Campbellsville's balanced starting attack, the Tigers were ultimately undone by Bethel's reserves, who outscored the CU bench 38-18.
- The Tigers will be back in action on Saturday, February 14, traveling to Henderson, Tennessee, to battle the No. 1 Freed-Hardeman University Lions beginning at 3 p.m. ET.
The game opened with
Dalton Kramer and
Marcellus Vail setting the offensive pace for the Tigers. Bethel quickly retaliated to steal the lead, but Vail and
TyShay Epps connected from beyond the arc to put Campbellsville back in front. However, a 10-0 run by the Wildcats flipped the scoreboard, giving Bethel a five-point advantage midway through the first half.
Jay Milburn and
Ra Briggs sparked Campbellsville's momentum with timely dunks and three-pointers to chip away at the deficit. Despite their efforts, Bethel's Chauncey Hughes III proved to be an unrelenting force off the bench, keeping the Wildcats ahead.
Javaughn Smith entered the game and drained a three-pointer, followed by interior strikes from Milburn and Kramer, but the Tigers still trailed the Wildcats 41-33 at the halftime break.
Parker Jones scored the first bucket of the second half to set a renewed tone. Kramer and Vail's efficiency from the charity stripe helped Campbellsville rack up points and steadily erase the deficit, eventually tying the scoreboard at 52-52 with 12:32 remaining. However, Bethel's David Starr swiftly became a pivotal force, hitting crucial perimeter shots to fuel a Wildcats surge through the second half.
The three-point shooting of
Javaughn Smith and Kramer kept the Tigers within striking distance, but Bethel refused to stand down. Down the stretch, Campbellsville was forced to foul, sending the Wildcats to the free-throw line repeatedly. Bethel capitalized on these opportunities, sealing the game with a barrage of late free throws to counteract any Campbellsville comeback attempt, handing the Tigers an 84-75 defeat.
