March 15, 2007

Kansas City, Mo. - Junior forward Zach Allender posted a game-high 31 points and 22 rebounds to lead unseeded Campbellsville University to an 80-55 victory against No. 13 Houston Baptist University (Texas) Thursday in first-round action at the 2007 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship. The entire 31-game tournament is being held at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

 

Allender made 14-of-23 shots from the field as the Tigers earned their second consecutive trip to the second round of the national tournament. Campbellsville will play Friday at 12:30 p.m. CDT against either Concordia University (Calif.) or Lee University (Tenn.).

 

Houston Baptist built a 21-14 lead midway through the first half before Campbellsville took command. The Tigers closed the half on a 21-6 run to take a 35-27 lead at the intermission. Campbellsville extended its margin by shooting 63 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes of play. The Tigers shot 52.5 percent from the floor in the contest while holding the Huskies to 31.4 percent shooting in the contest.

 

Senior forward Korey Mitchell added 15 points and three assists for Campbellsville, while senior guard Jason Moore handed out a team-leading six assists for the Tigers. Ten different players scored in the victory for Campbellsville.

 

Houston Baptist, which made its 10^th consecutive trip to the NAIA national tournament, wraps up its season with an overall record of 22-7. Senior guard Dwight Jones led the Huskies with 16 points, while senior center Matt Autenrieth pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds.