The Bruins had four players score in double figures and the team shot over 50% from the field but it wasn't enough as they fell on the road to Campbellsville University - Harrodsburg 105-91 on Friday night in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. With the loss, the Bruins fall to 2-6 on the season.
"We faced a top-ten team in NCCAA DII on their home court and we played with a lot of intensity," Bruins Head Men's Basketball Coach Burton Uwarow said. "They are a veteran team and they played like it tonight."
The Bruins came into the game on the heels of a loss to Piedmont University earlier in the week. The Pioneers entered the game at 6-5 on the season after having their five-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday night in a loss to Alice Lloyd College.
As the game began, the Bruins and Pioneers exchanged baskets before a three from Chris Rawlins have Campbellsville a 10-4 lead. The Bruins answered right back with a three from Eli Cupples but the Pioneers then pushed their lead with a 12-2 run to lead 22-9.
The Pioneers continued to push the tempo and found open looks offensively. At the midway point of the half, a layup from Antonie Darby banked home a layup to give the Pioneers a 30-13 lead.
In the final minutes of the half, the Bruins were able to battle back as back to back threes from Trevor Brunson and Devin Dean closed the gap. Unfortunately, the Pioneers again capitalized offensively as they pushed their lead to 51-36 at halftime.
The Bruins came out looking to cut into the lead but the Pioneers knocked down back to back shots to open the second half. Devin Dean recorded back to back baskets for the Bruins but again the Pioneers found the answer offensively as they maintained their double-digit lead.
With just over six minutes remaining, Henry Blair scored on a layup to cut the deficit to 87-74 as the Bruins looked to mount a late rally. The Pioneers refused to back down as they made key shots down the stretch to pull away in the late stages and win 105-91.
"We have a lot of new players on the team this year and we are still getting in sync," Coach Uwarow said. "We did well offensively in this game but we just have to get better on the defensive end."
Henry Blair led the Bruins in scoring on the night with 22 points and 4 rebounds while Devin Dean scored 18 and Eli Cupples had 16. Daniel Fuller was the last Bruin in double figures with 13 points including shooting 8-9 from the free throw line.
Next up, the Bruins will be back home next weekend for a pair of home games. On Friday, the Bruins will welcome Oglethorpe University before closing out first semester of play on Saturday with a matchup against Calvary University.
