COLUMBIA, Ky. -- On Thursday night against No. 20 Campbellsville (Ky.), eighth ranked Lindsey Wilson College's Kalen Kimberland came off the bench less than four minutes into the game and simply put the team on his back.

Needing an offensive weapon to emerge with three-point specialist Chase Cox riddled with early foul trouble, the junior from Columbia, Ky., accepted the challenge to finish with a game-high 26 points.

The Tigers were ice cold from the 3-point line, hitting just 2-of-15 attempts, as the Blue Raiders closed out a 77-68 win in Biggers Sports Center than meant more than just another win against a rival.

With the win, Lindsey Wilson (19-8, 11-4 MSC) earns at least a share of the Mid-South Conference Regular-Season Championship and assures itself of the top seed at the MSC Tournament in Frankfort, Ky., next month.

The Blue Raiders had won the MSC Championship just once before during the 2004-05 season.

Joining Kimberland in double figures was Chase Spreen with 13 points and Cox with 11. Charles Baker went to work on the glass to finish with a game-high 10 rebounds and seven points.

With Kimberland leading the way, Lindsey Wilson's bench outscored the Tigers' 35-8.

For Spreen it was a tough night, hitting just 4-of-12 shots from the field. But when the team needed a big bucket, the senior came through with 3:30 to play on a layup that pushed the lead back out to five at 68-63.

While it needed big baskets like Spreen's at times, Lindsey Wilson finished the game without giving up the lead after Wesley Hanspard opened things up with a thundering dunk.

Malik Thomas answered the dunk with a basket on the Tigers' next trip, but that would be the last tie score as Baker put Lindsey Wilson on top for good with a 3-pointer.

The Blue Raiders largest lead of the game was 10 points, while Campbellsville chipped the lead down to three points or less 14 times but never put together a big enough run to take the lead.

Trailing just 43-38 at halftime, it took Lindsey Wilson just under four minutes to push the lead up to 10 on a 9-4 run to start the second half spearheaded by back-to-back jumpers by Kimberland.

Campbellsville (20-9, 8-7 MSC) made its best run in the second half with 5:45 left, using a 6-1 spurt to claw within 66-63.

But Spreen came up with his layup and it was all Lindsey Wilson from there as Kimberland followed Spreen with a 3-pointer to take a 71-63 lead with under two minutes to play.

The Tigers were led in scoring by Justin Ennis' 21 points, while Cedric Henderson added 16 and Jonas Bohm chipped in 11.

Lindsey Wilson was hot all night, finishing 50.0 percent from the field, 46.2 percent from behind the arc and 73.5 percent at the free-throw line.

While Campbellsville struggled from deep, shooting just 13.3 percent, it still managed to shoot 45.8 percent from the field, but just 63.2 percent at the stripe.

The Tigers edged the Blue Raiders on the glass 35-33, but it was Campbellsville leading the game in turnovers 9-8.

Lindsey Wilson is back on the court Saturday afternoon as it hosts St. Catharine (Ky.) at 4 p.m. CT in Biggers Sports Center.

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