Tuesday, December 9, 2003

Contact: Stan Cole

Campbell Falls 79-61 at UNC Greensboro

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- UNC Greensboro's post tandem of Ronnie Burrell and Jelani Lawrence scored 17 and 11 points, respectively, as the Spartans downed Campbell, 79-61, Tuesday night, in Fleming Gym.

With the win, UNCG improves to 4-2 overall on the season, while the Camels remain winless at 0-5.

Campbell opened the second half with a lay-in from Diego Aguiar to cut the Spartan lead to nine, 45-36. The two teams traded baskets over the next several minutes with UNCG answering every Camel field goal behind the post play of Burrell and Lawrence.

Leading 55-45, UNCG went on a 10-0 run capped by a Ray Bristow 3-pointer to extend the lead to 20, 65-45.

Campbell made a late surge at that point with consecutive field goals from Tarick Johnson and Brad McKeiver cutting the Spartan lead to 12, 67-55.

UNCG ended the Camel run with Jay Joseph's fifth 3-pointer of the contest as the Spartans closed the game with a 12-6 spurt en route to the victory.

Joseph led the Spartans with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor, including a 6-for-9 effort from the 3-point arc. Ronnie Taylor joined Joseph, Burrell and Lawrence in double-figure scoring with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Taylor also handed out a game-high six assists, while Josh Gross pulled down six rebounds.

Derek Gray paced the Camel attack with 12 points. Campbell's leading scorer, Tarick Johnson, added 11 points and Robby Dupre recorded nine points and seven rebounds.

As a team, the Spartans shot 54.0% (27-50) from the field, while holding Campbell to 37.5% (21-56). Campbell managed to outrebound the Spartans 36-32, but were harassed into 20 turnovers by the UNCG defense.

The win moves UNCG to 11-10 all-time versus the Camels, while also extending Campbell's road losing streak to 20 games.

The Spartans opened the game on an 11-2 run highlighted by two Jay Joseph 3-pointers. Campbell answered with a 3-pointer from Corey Parker to cut the lead to six, 11-5.

UNCG, however, continued to push the pace and with a Taylor 3-pointer and thunderous Burrell slam the Spartans were back up by nine, 18-9. The lead then swelled to 12, 27-15, at the 7:39 mark, as Dwon Clifton sliced through the lane for two lay-ups and Ricky Hickman connected on a free throw.

Campbell outscored the Spartans 19-18 over the final minutes of the half, but UNCG still took a 45-34 lead into halftime.

Joseph led all scorers at halftime with 14 points, while Taylor chipped in with eight points and three assists. The Spartans shot 51.7% (15-29) from the floor in the opening period, while holding the Camels to just 35.5% (11-31). Johnson and Lee Marsh each posted seven points to lead the Camels offensively in the opening 20-minutes.

Campbell will return home to open conference play as the Fighting Camels host Atlantic Sun rival UCF on Monday, Dec. 15 in Carter Gym. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m.[Box Score]