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Box Score (PDF)

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Reco McCarter scored 15 points and Campbell defeated Liberty 53-46 Wednesday in the Big South Conference opener for both schools at Gore Arena.

McCarter started a late run for the Camels (7-7, 1-0) then made four free throws in the final 21 seconds to help hold off a Flames rally.  The fifth-year senior broke a 31-31 tie with a free throw with 8:17 to play; then knocked down a triple on the following possession to kick-start a 13-2 Camel run.

CU by as many as 11 and by 47-37 with 2:07 left before Liberty cut the gap to 48-45 on Andrew Smith's tip-in with 1:24 to play.  However, Campbell knocked down 13 of its final 16 from the line to win despite shooting just 28.6 percent (14-49) from the floor on the day.

McCarter grabbed nine rebounds, while converting 4-of-7 shots, including 2-of-3 threes and 5-of-6 from the line.  Andrew Ryan added nine points and six rebounds and Troy Harper came off the bench to chip in nine points and six assists. 

Campbell's leading scorer D.J. Mason, who entered the game averaging 13.5 points, was held to a season-low four points in 17 minutes while battling foul trouble.  Campbell, however made more free throws (18-27) than Liberty attempted (10-16).

Joe Retic led Liberty (6-8, 0-1) with 12 points on 4-of-14 from the field and Peter Moller added 10 on 3-of-10 shooting.  Smith finished with nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Flames, who made only 30.4 percent (17-56) of their attempts from the floor.

"In the Big South every game is a tough and today was a physical, rebounding game," said Campbell head coach Kevin McGeehan, whose Campbell teams are now 2-0 in Big South openers.  "I thought we stepped up to the challenge.  We made a lot of tough plays down the stretch and couldn't be more proud of our guys.  For D.J. and Kyre' (Hamer) to have that much foul trouble and for us to play that great of a defensive game and put ourselves in a position to win was just incredible."

Campbell and Liberty finished the day deadlocked on the glass with 41 rebounds and each team scored 11 second-chance points.

CU led 20-19 at halftime after an opening period where neither team led by more than five. 

The Fighting Camels return to action Monday in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off at Charleston Southern.

Notes:

·         Wednesday's game was Campbell's first on New Year's Eve since Dec. 31, 1969 when the Camels topped Virginia State 94-85 at Carter Gym.

·         Campbell stands 6-1 at Gore Arena this season, while Liberty is 0-7 away from Lynchburg, Va. (including 0-2 in neutral games).

·         The Camels are 8-4 in their last 12 conference openers and have won their last six initial league outings.  CU has started 2-0 in league play each season since re-joining the Big South in 2011-12.

·         Wednesday's triumph ended a five-game losing streak for the Camels against the Flames.  CU's previous win in the series was a 96-82 decision in the 2011-12 Big South opener.

·         CU improved to 9-4 all-time vs. Liberty in Buies Creek, 2-2 in Gore Arena.