Friday, November 26, 2004
Contact:
Stan Cole
Number 17 N.C. State Defeats Campbell
99-44
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Cameron Bennerman scored 20 points to lead No.
17 North Carolina State past Campbell 99-44, marking the the
Wolfpack's fourth straight victory to start the season.
Julius Hodge added 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists
for the Wolfpack, who shot 70 percent in the second half and
committed just six turnovers for the game.
Diego Aguiar scored 16 points for the Fighting Camels (1-2),
who have lost 24 of 25 games against Atlantic Coast Conference
teams. Comerlee Poole added 10 points and 10 rebounds, his
second-straight double-double and third-consecutive double digit
board outing to start the season.
The Fighting Camels' only win against an ACC foe came 11 years
ago against the Wolfpack, a 72-69 overtime win in Reynolds
Coliseum. But there was no chance of an upset Friday night, with
the Wolfpack handing Campbell its worst loss since moving to
Division I in 1977.
Campbell's previous worst defeat in Division I was a 96-43 loss
at Florida International in February 1998.
The Wolfpack jumped on the Fighting Camels early, hit six
3-pointers in the opening period. The Wolfpack hit 14 of 26
3-pointers and held their instate neighbors to 33 percent
shooting.
This game followed a familiar pattern for the Wolfpack, who
cruised through the BCA Invitational last week. The Wolfpack opened
leads of 11-0, 13-2 and 13-0 in their first three games and came in
shooting 57 percent on the season.
N.C. State got off to another fast start against the Fighting
Camels, taking a 20-4 lead that grew to a 20-point margin midway
through the half. The Wolfpack shot 5-of-6 from behind the arc in
those opening 10 minutes.
The last of that stretch was a wide-open 3 from Ilian Evtimov
just in front of the Campbell bench. N.C. State led 41-22 at
halftime and scored the first 13 points after the break - ending
with a stickback inside from Cedric Simmons - for a 32-point
lead.
Levi
Watkins (12), Jordan Collins (11) and Engin Atsur (10) also scored
in double figures for State. Seven different Wolfpack players
connected from three-point territory on the night.
Campbell was facing its first nationally-ranked team in four
years since an 86-47 loss at then number-17 ranked Wake Forest in
Nov. 2000.
The Fighting Camels return to action on Tuesday in a 7:00 p.m.
tip-off at UNC Wilmington. [ Box Score ]
