Lindsey Wilson wins MSC Toutnament Title - Mar 5, 2018
Sixth-seeded Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) used a 9-3 run in the final five minutes to knock off Campbellsville (Ky.) 84-76 Sunday afternoon to win the Mid-South Conference tournament and secure the automatic bid to the NAIA Div. I men's basketball national championship tournament. The Blue Raiders matched the 1997-98 University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) team as the lowest seed to ever win the men's tournament. The Patriots did it in the first year of the league. Campbellsville (23-10), the tournament's fifth seed, pulled within three (70-67) with 5:12 to play when senior Shawn Johnson (6'7''-F) sank two free throws. But Lindsey Wilson (24-8) used three layups and hit as many free throws as five different players scored, including a toss by senior Bryan Wallace (5'11''-PG) with 40.8 seconds left, to take a 79-70 lead. Wallace, who turned steals into points three times in the second half, led five players in double figures for Lindsey Wilson with 22, adding six steals, five assists and four rebounds. Senior Nick Brown (6'11''-C) and junior Can Oztamur (6'6''-F) added 16 each for Lindsey Wilson, which shot 55.8 percent from the floor and 66.7 percent in the second half. Freshman Kel Stotts finished with 12 and senior Hannes Erhardt 11. Lindsey Wilson used three three-point baskets in the first three minutes to charge out to a 9-2 lead. But Campbellsville immediately responded with a 13-2 stretch that saw three three-point buckets of its own. Freshman guard Jacob King (5'9''-PG) had two of them, including one from the right wing to put the Tigers in front 15-11 with 14:33 left in the half. The lead was 22-16 when the Blue Raiders ripped off 11 of the next 14 points to regain the lead. Lindsey went 5-of-7 from the line, and when Erhardt sank two with 6:35 to play, he put his club in front 27-25. Campbellsville then took control of the game thanks to 6-10 junior Andrew Smith (6'10''-F). After senior forward Shawn Johnson hit a three to put his club back on top, Smith had eight unanswered points, opening with a pair of threes before scoring inside. It ended an 11-0 run to put the Tigers on top 36-27 with 2:24 to play. The lead was 39-32 at the break. Campbellsville was led by junior Tyler Hagan (6'7''-C/F) with 20 points, nailing 6-of-11 from the arc in the game. Smith followed with 19 points and pulled 10 rebounds, one day after finishing with 25 points and 22 rebounds in a win over top-seeded Pikeville. King had 15 points to go with eight assists and six rebounds for the Tigers, while Johnson added 11.
Co-Player of the Year: Darrion Leslie (6'4''-F) of Pikeville Co-Player of the Year: Shadell Millinghaus (6'2''-G-94) of Georgetown, KY Freshman of the Year: EJ Onu (6'10''-F) of Shawnee St. Champion of Character Award: Rze Culbreath (6'0''-PG) of Pikeville Coach of the Year: Kelly Wells of Pikeville
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