Campbellsville, Ky. – Shawnee State men's basketball won the marquee matchup of the weekend in the Mid-South Conference, outlasting (3) Campbellsville 73-63 at Powell Athletic Center.
A pair of Jordan Doram baskets would put Campbellsville up 4-0 early, but Shawnee State would immediately fight back. Madison Ridout (SR/Jackson, Ohio) scored a basket and a pair of free throws from Hannah Miller (JR/Coal Grove, Ohio) would tie the score up at four. Sienna King (FR/Shelby, Ohio) would then hit an open post shot to put SSU up. Campbellsville would tie, but the Bears would respond with six straight points to go up 12-6. SSU would go cold for the rest of the period, and Campbellsville would rally to tie the game at 12-12 after one quarter.
A hotly contested second quarter would see neither team taking more than a three-point lead for the period. A Shania Massie (JR/Greenfield, Ohio) turnover would give Campbellsville their first lead since the early going when Madison Kaiser hit a three to put Campbellsville up 19-17. The Tigers would hold that lead until 3:06 to halftime, when Madison Ridout hit a layup to put SSU back on top 24-23. Alexus Calhoun would tie the game up at 27 a few minutes later, but Shawnee State would again retake the lead on a three from Bailey Cummins (SO/Brooksville, Kentucky), the first SSU hit in the game, to take a 30-27 lead. Madison Stewart would beat the buzzer from 12 feet to make the Shawnee State lead 30-29 at halftime.
Back-to-back baskets from King and Cummins would put Shawnee State up 34-29 to start the third quarter. Cummins would hit a three minutes later to put Shawnee State up nine points, and a Hannah Miller basket would eventually push that lead to 10, 49-39. Campbellsville would chip away at the advantage, Shawnee State's largest of the game, going on a 5-0 run at the end of the third to cut the SSU lead to 54-50 heading to the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Shawnee State would continue to hold Campbellsville out of reach. Kaiser's three would cut the lead to 61-59, but Campbellsville would get no closer. A pair of free throws from Ridout and a Miller three would push the lead out to seven points, and Lydia Poe (JR/Jackson, Ohio) would score late to push the lead out to nine. From there, Shawnee State would hit free throws down the stretch to down Campbellsville 73-63.
Madison Ridout and Bailey Cummins each had 18 points to lead Shawnee State. Sienna King added 11 and Hannah Miller had 10 to lead the Bears.
Jordan Doram had 16 points to lead Campbellsville. Alexus Calhoun added 10 points. Campbellsville, who were forcing 27 turnovers per game, only were able to force 13 Shawnee State turnovers.
The win improves Shawnee State to 18-3 on the season and 5-0 in the Mid-South Conference. Campbellsville falls to 18-3 and 4-1 in the league. The win moves Shawnee State into sole possession of first place in the league, and gives SSU a 15-12 advantage in the all-time series, including wins in the last four games against Campbellsville.
Shawnee State return to action on Thursday, January 25 when they host Life in Mid-South Conference action. Tip-off is set for 6:00pm.
