Contact: Stan Cole

Gardner-Webb Downs Campbell 81-70 In Atlantic Sun Men's Basketball

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Chris Gash scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half and Gardner-Webb defeated Campbell 81-70 Wednesday night at Carter Gym.

The Bulldogs (9-9, 6-5 Atlantic Sun) won their third-straight game and improved to 4-1 on the road in league play this year.

Gardner-Webb shot 58.6 percent (17-29) from the floor in the second half, and made 7-11 threes (.636). Simon Conn added 24 points and 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the year and Brian Bender chipped in 10.

Gash made 4-of-5 threes in the second half, and finished one point shy of the season-high 21 he scored Nov. 22 at East Carolina. Conn made 11-of-17 from the field, and T.J. McCullough dealt 8 assists.

Maurice Latham led Campbell (6-12, 5-6) with 27-points on 12-20 shooting, plus seven rebounds. Ledell Eackles added a season-best 17 points, plus five steals, while Eric Smith scored 13, all in the second half.

GWU finished 32-61 from the floor (.525) on the night and 9-19 from 3-point range (.474), while netting 8-9 three throws (.889).

Campbell, which entered the game averaging 83.1 points per game, fifth-highest in the nation, scored a season-low 70 and was out-rebounded for only the second time in 11 league contests this year.

The Camels made 44.8 percent of their shots (26-58), 9-26 from beyond the arc (.346) and only 9-17 from the line (.529).

Campbell broke to a 14-8 lead with 15:13 left in the opening half, but then went scoreless for a 7:25 span as the Bulldogs reeled off 10 unanswered points. Gardner-Webb extended the lead to seven points (32-25) before taking a 34-28 advantage at the break.

The Camels endured their second-lowest scoring half of the year by shooting just 38.5 percent (10-26) from the field and only 4-11 (.364) from the free throw line in the first period.

Smith's foul shots brought Campbell within 60-56 with 7:08 left in the contest, but Gash, who is averaging 15.6 points in 3 career games at Carter Gym, hit triples on 3-straight possessions and the Bulldogs went in front 69-57 with 5:12 to go.

Campbell cut the margin to 5 three times down the stretch, but drew no closer as GWU made 6-of-7 from the line in the last 0:33. Campbell has lost 4-straight league contests at Carter Gym.

Campbell hosts North Florida Saturday at 1:00 p.m. [ Box Score ]