RADFORD, VA. – Andrew Ryan scored 9 of his 20 points in overtime and Campbell defeated Radford 72-66 Tuesday night at the Dedmon Center to move into second place in the Big South Conference North Division race.
Trey Freeman added 21 points and Reco McCarter 14 for the Camels (12-16, 7-7), who opened the second half on a 29-13 run and swept the season series from Radford (12-16, 6-8). Coupled with High Point's 78-67 win at VMI (11-14, 6-7), Campbell leaped past the Keydets in the standings after winning its second-straight game.
The top two seeds in each division will earn a bye into the quarterfinal round of the VisitMyrtleBeach.com Big South Championship next month at Conway, S.C.
Antwon Oliver hit 3-straight threes and Reco McCarter's short bank capped an 11-3 Camel burst that gave CU a 51-43 lead with 4:25 to play. However, R.J. Price knocked down a triple on the next possession to start a 14-6 Radford rally over the final 4:05.
Javonte Green made the second of two free throws with 45 seconds to go to knot the score at 57. Campbell had the ball for the final shot of regulation, but Antwon Oliver (who had made 3 triples earlier in the second half) missed from beyond the arc and Radford had possession with 1.7 seconds to play. Green's desperation 3, however, was short at the buzzer.
After Radford turned the ball over on its first possession of the extra period, Ryan knocked down a triple from the right wing and the Camels never trailed thereafter. Green's lay-up pulled Radford within 62-61, but the Camels answered when Darius Leonard grabbed an offensive rebound and later scored to start a 10-2 rally that game CU its third OT win in as many chances this year.
"I felt good about this game, start to finish," said Campbell head coach Robbie Laing. "Even though we were down 8 at half-time, I never ever felt we were going to lose this game. The success Radford had offensively in the first half was due to self-inflicted things."
Trailing 30-22 at the break, Campbell forced 14 Radford turnovers in the second period and hit 15 of 30 shots, while Radford made only 8 of 16 from the floor after intermission. The Camels finished with a 20-11 edge in points off turnovers and knocked down 7 of 15 from long range despite entering the game averaging just 4 treys made per outing (last in the league).
"There were a lot of meaningful buckets made all night," said Laing. "Antwon Oliver made 3 big shots, Reco McCarter made big shots and Darius Leonard made one at the rim with the game on the line."
Green led Radford, which lost its second-straight, with 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting, but committed 6 turnovers. Price, who entered the game 16th in the nation and on top of the Big South in 3-pointers made per game (2.96) added 12 points, but made just 1 triple in 6 attempts.
Freeman made 8 of 19 shots from the floor and 5-of-6 from the line. Ryan, who scored a career-high 27 in last Saturday's 87-78 win over VMI in Buies Creek, canned 4-of-7 triples and made 6-6 free throws (all in the overtime session). McCarter scored 14 points off the bench for the second-straight game and grabbed a game-high 7 rebounds in 30 minutes.
Radford led 30-22 at half-time as the Camels made only one shot in their final 8 attempts over the final 5:17 of the period.
Campbell shot just 31 percent (9-29) in the opening period and Radford hit only 38 percent (11-29) of its chances. However, the Highlanders (which entered the game as the worst free throw shooting team in the conference) knocked down 8-10 from the line in the opening half, compared to just 2-of-2 for CU.
Freeman and Ryan scored 8 points each in the opening half for the Camels, while Green had 10 for Radford before picking up his second foul on a charge with 2:18 to play.
Tuesday's victory snapped a 4-game road losing streak for the Camels, who dropped games at VMI, Coastal Carolina, Liberty and Charleston Southern since their last win away from Gore Arena, Jan. 12 at Presbyterian.
On the night, Campbell shot 41.5 percent (27-65) from the field and made 11-of-14 from the line (.786). Radford hit 23 of 54 (.426) from the field, 3 of 14 from 3-point distance and 17-of-25 free throws (.680). CU entered the night just 3-13 all-time at the Dedmon Center, but won its second-straight at Radford including last season's 73-65 triumph.
The Camels return to Buies Creek for their final two home games of the year, starting with Saturday's 4:00 p.m. tip-off against defending MEAC regular season champ Savannah State. CU hosts Longwood (Feb. 27); then closes the regular season schedule Mar. 2 at High Point, which has clinched the North Division crown.
