MEN'S BASKETBALL VICTORIOUS ON DAY ONE OF LOU CUNNINGHAM CLASSIC

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – At the Powell Athletic Center, the Lindsey Wilson men's basketball team turned in its second-highest offensive output of the season en route to an 84-64 victory over the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy (Mo.). The win is the Blue Raiders' third of the season against non-conference opponents and snaps a three-game drought that began earlier this month.

The locals pestered the Eutectics from start to finish on Friday afternoon, forcing a season-high 20 turnovers while committing a season-low eight miscues themselves. Embracing their defensive efforts, the Blue Raiders recorded 27 points off of turnovers and also played an efficient game in transition, posting 18 points off of fast break opportunities. 

Four different players scored in double-figures for Lindsey Wilson, including Johrdon Mumford who went for a game-best 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor. Elsewhere, Payton Cundiff and Elijah Jordan each logged 15 points. It is the first time since January 22, 2022, that at least three Blue Raiders scored 15 or more points in a single game. Veron Kalonji came close to joining the foremost mentioned trio, but still muscled a career-high 13 off the bench.

Both sides traded the lead in the early moments of the game. The Eutectics managed their largest cushion of the day midway through the first half when they grabbed a 17-13 advantage. Over the next five minutes, however, Lindsey Wilson locked into a rhythm with a 15-4 swing, which was capitalized by a three-point play by Jordan. Health Sciences and Pharmacy kept things interesting down the stretch of the half and came back to trim the Blue Raiders' to just one point heading into the break.

The locals appeared rejuvenated as the second half got underway. Back-to-back jumpers by Cundiff and Jordan, followed by an easy dunk from Mumford sparked a 14-0 stretch for Lindsey Wilson that put them in the driver's moving forward. The Blue Raiders collected seven of their 11 steals over the final 20 minutes, helping them to build their lead up to as many as 22 points with 9:54 remaining in regulation.

All told, the locals connected on 23-of-35 from the field in the second half, and outrebounded their opposition 19-9.

For the game, Lindsey Wilson shot a season-best 56.2 percent overall.

Aside from scoring, Kalonji paced the Blue Raiders on the glass with six total rebounds, followed by five from Mumford. Jayden Lazard passed the rock effectively for seven assists, and Rodney Lewis led the team with three steals.

Lindsey Wilson returns to Campbellsville on Saturday afternoon for day two of the Lou Cunningham Classic when they take on Virginia University in Lynchburg at 1 p.m. CST.