East Pennyroyal News

The Campbellsville University men's basketball team took on the Battle of Highway 55 Saturday afternoon. The Tigers came away with the win in a 71-66 score. 

The early moments consisted of both Campbellsville and Lindsey Wilson trading buckets back and forth. The Blue Raiders gained the upper hand as they collected a three-point lead. Malachi De Sousa evened the score at seven with a layup and then doubled back for a three-point basket to take back the lead. Campbellsville granted an opportunity for Lindsey Wilson to score in series but retaliated with scoring sequences of their own. Chandler Clements knocked down a three-point basket to put the Tigers ahead. Campbellsville had several opportunities from the charity stripe to keep the Tigers in front. Jace Wallace stepped up to the stripe four times to add all four shots to Campbellsville's lead. The Tigers were shooting 75% from the free throw when Keaston Brown collected his two buckets at the line. Brown's baskets grew the Tigers' advantage to 11 points. Lindsey Wilson broke up Campbellsville's gain as they acquired a few buckets. However, Campbellsville secured the lead entering the half 40-31. 

At the half, the Tigers sat at 41.4% from the field, while the Blue Raiders amassed 36%. Campbellsville had collected three of the eight shots they had taken from the arc, whereas Lindsey Wilson had only grabbed two buckets from the arc. De Sousa led his team with 12 points and five rebounds. 

Lindsey Wilson jumped out in the second half to decrease their discrepancy to two possessions. Both teams entered a three-minute scoring drought until the Blue Raiders secured a layup. Wallace countered this bucket with one of his own, plus a free throw, to keep Campbellsville comfortable. Lindsey Wilson crept up on Campbellsville to reign in a one-point deficit. As the teams traded buckets, Jordan Graham went to the rim back-to-back and kept the Tigers leading by three. Lindsey Wilson tied up the contest at 57 as the Blue Raiders were granted shots from the stripe. Wallace strung together five buckets to regain the Tiger lead. As a minute remained, Jay Milburn solidified a layup to put Campbellsville in a seven-point lead. The Blue Raiders cut their trail to three points, but Campbellsville put them away in a 71-66 score. 

The Tigers put up a tough fight to take home the defeat of Lindsey Wilson. Campbellsville finished the evening with 37.9% in field goals compared to Lindsey Wilson's 43.1%. Wallace completed the contest valiantly with 20 points and seven rebounds. Graham followed closely with 12 points and seven rebounds, while De Sousa trailed with 12 points and five rebounds.