BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Kenny
George had 20 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocked shots to lead
visiting UNC Asheville to an 83-71 men's basketball victory over
Campbell Saturday at Carter Gym.
UNCA trailed by as many as 12
in the first half, but outscored the Camels 49-30 in the second
period as CU made just 9-of-37 (.243) shots in the last
stanza.
George, a 7-foot-7 junior
from Chicago, tied his own school and Big South Conference records
for blocks in a game. The
Bulldogs (4-0) also set school and league records for blocks by a
team (16).
K.J. Garland led all scorers
with 23 points, plus seven assists, while Vincent James and John
Williams each had 11 for UNCA, which shot 55 percent (16-29) from
the field in the second period.
Kyle Vejraska led Campbell
(1-2) with 15 points, while Jonathan Rodriguez chipped in 13, plus
13 rebounds. Julius Perkins
and Jake Wohlfeil had nine each for the Camels, who made 12-of-34
(.353) three-point field goals, but hit only 13-of-41 from
two-point distance (.317).
Campbell used a 12-3 run to build a
31-19 edge with 8:44 left in the first half, but the Bulldogs
closed to within seven (41-34) at the break.
Asheville then out-scored the Camels
34-13 in the first 13:53 of the second half and led 68-54 on
Vincent James' old-fashioned 3-point play with 6:07 to go. UNCA still led 74-60 with 3:17
remaining before Rodriguez and Wohlfeil hit threes and Vejraska
canned a jumper to pull CU within 74-68 with 1:59 to go.
However, Garland nailed a
trey on the ensuing possession and the Camels did not score until
Wohlfeil's three hit the net at the final horn.
Campbell held a 23-16 edge on the
boards at half-time, but UNCA out-rebounded the Camels by a 31-16
margin in the final 20 minutes. The Camels converted 17 UNCA turnovers
into 20 points and had 13 second-chance points off 17 offensive
rebounds.
However, the Bulldogs made
25-of-32 free throws (.781), while Campbell hit just 9-of-18 (.500)
from the line.
In addition to UNCA and Big
South records for blocks, George's and the Bulldogs' individual and
team rejection totals set new marks for a Campbell opponent in a
game.
UNCA finished the game
shooting 48.1 (26-54) from the floor and hit 6-of-19 (.316)
threes. Campbell shot just
33.3 (25-75) percent overall from the field.
The Fighting Camels (1-2)
return to action on Wednesday when they host Appalachian State in a
day before Thanksgiving matinee at 2:00 p.m.
