FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The Lindsey Wilson College men's basketball team found their offense in the second half to come-from-behind and beat Pikeville (Ky.) College 80-71 in the opening round of the Mid-South Conference Men's Tournament at the Frankfort Civic Center.
The Blue Raiders (19-11) scored 53 points and shot nearly 58 percent from the field in the second half to advance to the tournament's semifinals on Saturday. No. 4-seeded Lindsey Wilson faces top-seeded Georgetown (Ky.) College at 7 p.m. CST.
Lindsey Wilson and Pikeville -- who shot 62.2 percent (28-of-45) for the game from the field -- exchanged offensive hay-makers throughout the second half.
After trailing 33-27 at the break, Lindsey Wilson grabbed its first lead of the second half, 41-39 at the 14:07 mark.
The two teams exchanged leads over the next 12 minutes -- 13 times for the game. With 2:13 left in the game, the Blue Raiders led 67-66.
Lindsey Wilson junior
Lloyd Lewis then hit one of his two threes to push the Blue Raider lead to 70-66 at the 1:47 mark. Lewis ended with a game-high 28 points
Pikeville senior Will Holloman answered Lewis' three with one to cut the lead back to a single digit.
A dunk by LWC senior
Brian Campbell -- who finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds -- extended the lead 72-69 with 1:02 remaining.
Holloman -- who finished with a team-best 27 points on 13-of-17 shooting -- tried to tie the game for the 15th time, but his shot missed.
Campbell grabbed the rebound and was intentionally fouled by Pikeville sophomore Bo Harris.
Upset by the foul call, Harris was then whistled for a technical foul for protesting the call.
Lewis -- who finished the game with a program-record 14-of-14 free throws -- and Campbell hit four straight free throws to give the Blue Raiders a 76-69 lead.
Lindsey Wilson senior
John Fitzgerald hit two more free throws following a Pikeville foul to increase the lead to nine with 30.1 seconds left.
A Holloman layup and two more free throws from Lewis gave the Blue Raiders the 80-71 win.
Campbell helped the Blue Raiders out-rebound the Bears 26-18. Lindsey Wilson grabbed 11 offensive rebounds, which they converted into 14 second-chance points. Pikeville had no second-chance points.
For the game, the Blue Raiders shot 52.1 percent (25-of-48) from the field and nearly 53 percent (9-of-17) from beyond the three point arc.
Fitzgerald (19 points) and sophomore
Brandon Adams (13 points) joined Lewis and Campbell in double figures.
Harris finished with 24.
The loss ends Pikeville's season at 12-19.
