Williamsburg, KY – Trailing 44-28 at the half, UC used a 33-10 run to begin the final 20 minutes of play along with clutch shooting late to overcome the 16-point deficit and defeat the tenth-ranked Tigers of Campbellsville University on Saturday night. The win improves the Patriots to 15-5 overall (2-3 MSC) on the season.
Campbellsville opened the game on a 10-2 run in the first three and a half minutes of play. The Patriots would try to climb back in, but the Tigers continued their sharp shooting early, extending the lead to 20-8 seven minutes in. Cumberlands would cut the lead to four at 20-16 with an 8-0 run, but CU would again extend the lead back out. Three-point shooting was very effective for Campbellsville in the first half as the lead would grow to 19 at one point before holding a 44-28 lead at halftime.
The beginning of the second half seemed to be going for Campbellsville as well as the lead moved to 18 at 48-30, but UC would turn to the duo of
Jordan Griggs and
Jahi Hinson as they would lead the way on 33-10 run in the first ten minutes of the half, launching UC to a 61-54 lead. Big defensive stops were key in the second half as well as
Caleb Taylor would come up with four blocks to aid the Patriots.
Campbellsville would come back to within one at 75-74, but a personal foul along with a technical foul against a Tiger would prove to be crucial. With four free throws to come for UC, they would only sink one to make it 76-74. After a UC foul, CU's Hagan Tyler would tie the game with a pair from the charity stripe, making it 76-76 with 20 seconds left. UC would have the ball with the shot clock turned off. Griggs would drive to the lane and draw the foul, sending him to the line for two. After sinking the first and a timeout called by the Patriots, a missed free throw would be rebounded by the Tigers. With no timeouts left though, CU would push it up the floor with a final desperation three by Tyler missing wildly as UC would hold on for the 77-76 win.
The duo of Griggs and Hinson did a chunk of damage for the Patriots. Griggs pitched in 30 points to go with four rebounds in the win while Hinson added 21 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Taylor was a big presence down low with nine points, nine rebounds, and five blocks in the contest. The Patriots shot 46% from the floor and 6-18 from behind the arc.
The Tigers had four score in double figures in the contest led by Tyler with 19 points and six rebounds while Andrew Smith chipped in another double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Campbellsville shot 43.3% from the field and 9-21 from deep.
UC returns to action on Thursday, January 24
th as they travel to Columbia, Kentucky to take on the Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson College. Tip-off is slated for 9 pm eastern time.
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