Simmons (KY) used a dominant first half and a massive rebounding edge to pull away from Champion Christian, 82–54, on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 10, 2026) in Louisville.
Simmons set the tone early, taking a 39–20 lead into halftime after holding Champion Christian to 32.8% shooting (19-of-58 for the game) and just 4-of-22 from three. The home team kept its foot on the gas after the break, winning the second half 43–34 to secure the 28-point final margin.
What decided the game
- Rebounding control: Simmons won the glass 52–29, including 18 offensive rebounds. That extra-possession advantage fueled a steady stream of second-chance opportunities.
- Efficiency and volume: Simmons shot 36-of-78 (46.2%) and attempted 20 more field goals than Champion Christian, a gap largely created by the offensive rebounding and cleaner possessions.
- Ball security: Simmons committed 8 turnovers to Champion Christian's 13, helping maintain separation throughout.
Champion Christian
- Cam Parker: Team-high 9 points, plus 2 assists and 2 steals.
- Kris Barnett: 8 points and 7 rebounds.
- Trevor Vertiz and **Chad Milne: 6 points each, with Vertiz hitting 2 threes.
Simmons' combination of paint control, second-chance production, and balanced scoring made it a runaway by halftime—and the rebounding margin ensured Champion Christian never had a path back into the game.
