Campbellsville, KY – In a contest that seemed eerily like the previous meeting earlier this season, the Patriots would this time hold a 17-point lead in the second half, but the Tigers of Campbellsville University used a second half surge to take a lead late in the contest. A late foul against the Tigers and two successful free throws would be the decisive possession in the game as Cumberlands would edge out the win over Campbellsville 65-64, completing the season series sweep and improving the Patriots to 19-7 (6-5 MSC) on the year.
 
Six lead changes in the first half saw the Patriots and Tigers battling back and forth for the opening nine minutes of play. A 12-4 run by UC would push Cumberlands out to a 22-14 lead with six minutes to play in the half. The Patriots continued to slowly inch themselves away during the half, holding an 11-point lead at the break with the score 31-20.
 
Cumberlands would continue to pull away from the Tigers in the first eight minutes of the second half, pushing the lead to 17 at 48-31. Over the next 11 plus minutes, the Tigers would claw their way back into the game, cutting the lead to one at 62-61 with 17 seconds remaining. After a foul by the Tigers, UC would hit one of two free throws to give the Patriots a 63-61 lead with 15 ticks left. After a called timeout, Campbellsville would drain a three with :08 on the clock. On the inbound, Jordan Griggs would take off down the floor and draw a foul with under five seconds left. Converting on both free throws to give UC a one-point lead, the Tigers were without a timeout and would get a look from 35 feet but came up empty as the Patriots would come away with sole possession of third place in the MSC standings with the win.
 
The Patriots saw three in double figures with a pair turning in big outputs with double-doubles. Caleb Taylor finished the night with 21 points to go with 11 rebounds and a pair of blocks. Malik Colvin-Seldon also notched a double-double with 11 points and a career high 18 rebounds to go with four assists, three blocks, and a steal. Jordan Griggs chipped in 15 points and six rebounds in the win.
 
UC shot 49% from the floor despite going just 1-8 from beyond the arc. The Patriots also went 14-19 from the charity stripe. Cumberlands also won the rebound battle over Campbellsville 47-29.
 
Campbellsville was led by Stephaun Adams with 25 points while Andrew Smith etched his own double-double with 17 points and 17 rebounds. The Tigers shot just under 33% from the floor while going a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line. They would also score 20 points off 21 Patriot turnovers.
 
The Patriots return home on Thursday, February 14^th as they will host the Running Eagles of Life University for a Mid-South Conference showdown. Tip-off is slated for 8 pm.
 
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