BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Coming off a 10-point loss at 21st-ranked
Virginia Tech, Campbell continues its season-opening five-game road
trip Monday when it travels to Greenville to face East Carolina in
a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.
Monday's game will be aired on the CU Radio Network on WCLN 107.3
FM out of Fayetteville. Live audio is also available at
www.GoCamels.com.
The Camels (0-1) played the tightest game against a
nationally-ranked opponent in the program's NCAA Division I history
(since 1977-78) before dropping a 70-60 setback Friday night to the
Hokies.
Senior guard Junard Hartley hit a career-high tying three 3-point
shots and led the team with 14 points, while junior forward Eric
Griffin contributed 13 points and nine rebounds in his Fighting
Camel debut. However, all-ACC guard Malcolm Delaney led four
Virginia Tech players in double figures with 20 points, including
11-of-11 from the line, and the Hokies finished with a 41-24
advantage on the glass.
Prior to Friday's 10-point decision, the closest Campbell had come
to upsetting a nationally-ranked foe was a 25-point loss at
8th-ranked NC State in Dec. 1978 and a 26-point defeat against
No.-1 Duke in the first round of the 1992 NCAA Tournament. CU is
now 0-8 all-time against teams ranked in the nation's top-25.
The defending Atlantic Sun Conference regular season champion
Fighting Camels will take on an East Carolina team that won its
Friday debut under new head coach Jeff Lebo over Division II
Erskine by a 74-46 margin. Jamar Abrams led ECU with 16 points,
plus seven rebounds, while Erin Straughn chipped in 12 and eight
boards for the Pirates, who finished with a 23-7 advantage in
second-chance points.
ECU holds a 29-8 edge in the series since Campbell joined NCAA
Division I ('77-78), but the Camels ended an eight-game losing
streak to the Pirates last November at Buies Creek. Campbell won a
seesaw battle 74-68 that featured nine ties and 12 lead
changes.
Lorne Merthie's triple from deep in the right corner with 2:54
remaining started an 11-2 Campbell run to seal the victory.
Merthie topped the Camels with 17 points, 11 in the second half.
Brock Young led East Carolina with 19 points, including 11-of-12
from the stripe.
Campbell's last win at Greenville came on Feb. 27, 1985, a 60-58
decision under the direction of head coach Jerry Smith, who is now
in his third year as color analyst on the CU Radio Network.
Following Monday's contest, the Camels play three games next
weekend at the Global Sports Hoops Showcase in Auburn, Ala. CU
meets Middle Tennessee State Friday in a 5:00 p.m. CST tip-off;
then squares off against host Auburn Saturday (4:15 CST) and
Samford on Sunday (2:00 p.m. CST).
