CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Campbellsville University men's basketball team hosted the #17 University of the Cumberlands Patriots on Thursday night for their regular-season home finale. Despite four Tigers scoring in double figures and a historic milestone for senior
Jay Milburn, Campbellsville was unable to defeat the Patriots, falling 76-66.
- During tonight's game, senior Jay Milburn reached 1,000 career points, capping off the milestone by leading the Tigers with 15 points and seven rebounds.
- Four Tigers scored in double digits throughout the game: Milburn (15), Dalton Kramer (11), Ra Briggs (11), and Taveon Smith (10).
- Briggs was relentless on the glass, pulling down nine rebounds, including a staggering eight on the offensive end.
- Despite losing the game, Campbellsville surpassed Cumberlands in defensive rebounds (27-7), assists (17-14), bench points (23-20), blocks (5-1), and points off turnovers (9-7).
- The Tigers will be back in action on Saturday, February 21st, traveling to Georgetown, Kentucky, to battle the Georgetown College Tigers for their final regular-season game.
Both teams came out strong in the opening minutes, exchanging baskets and keeping the score tight.
Dalton Kramer highlighted the early offense for Campbellsville, connecting on back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to keep the Tigers within striking distance of the lead.
Cumberlands was quick to retaliate and reclaim control, but the Tigers did not stop fighting, remaining close behind. The Patriots' Malachi Robinson and Kyle Duke worked together to widen the gap on the scoreboard, but
Taveon Smith and
Ra Briggs entered the game and provided key baskets to bring Campbellsville within four points at the half, 34-30.
Parker Jones and
TyShay Epps came into the second half with a relentless offensive push. The Patriots stayed ahead, but the Tigers remained close behind.
Jay Milburn continued to narrow the gap in the paint, officially reaching double figures halfway through the second period.
An individual 8-0 scoring run by
Taveon Smith, featuring two layups and four consecutive free throws, brought Campbellsville within a single possession, cutting the deficit to 55-53 with under 10 minutes to play. However, Cumberlands' action in the paint overpowered their efforts, as Kyle Duke eventually pushed his scoring total to a game-high 19 points.
The tension on the court only heightened down the stretch, with both teams receiving several foul calls and returning to the free-throw line time after time. With less than five minutes left in the game, the Patriots re-established a 10-point upper hand. Milburn and
Marcellus Vail attempted to retaliate for the Tigers in the closing minutes, but it was not enough to overpower the opposing offense, resulting in a 76-66 defeat.
