BUIES CREEK, N.C. – In a rematch of last year's Big South Conference title game, Campbell hosts Winthrop Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
The Camels (6-8, 0-2) are coming off a tough 82-80 loss in overtime Wednesday against Gardner-Webb. Winthrop (7-6, 1-1) dropped an 85-79 decision Wednesday at Radford.
Including last week's 85-79 setback at Asheville, Campbell has suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this year - by a total of eight points.
Campbell continues to lead the Big South Conference in overall (.498) and 3-point (.410) field goal percentage in addition to assists (17.1), blocks (4.6) and assist-turnover ratio (1.4). Winthrop tops the league in 3-pointers made per game (10.3) and is the only team in the Big South scoring at a higher rate (84.8) than the Camels (83.1).
Junior G
Chris Clemons, the pre-season Big South player of the year, sits on top of the Big South (22.9) scoring charts and rates 10th nationally. Clemons owns the nation's longest active double-figure scoring streak (62 games). Sophomore G
Marcus Burk is 2nd in the league scoring race (18.3) and also tops the Big South in field goal (.549) and 3-point (.456) percentage. He has scored at least 20 points 8 times in the last 12 outings.
Campbell's eight losses have come by an average of 5.6 points. Six of those setbacks have come by 6, or fewer, points, including both in conference play.
CU stands 5-3 at home this year, while Winthrop is 2-5 on the road.
The Eagles are led by senior forward Xavier Cooks, who ranks 7th among league scoring leaders (15.5), is 2nd in rebounding (8.7), 3rd in assists (3.6) and blocks (1.3) and 10th in steals (1.4). Brothers Anders (13.4) and Bjorn (11.0) Broman team in the Eagle backcourt and rate 12th and 22nd, respectively, among Big South scoring leaders.
Top-seeded Winthrop claimed the 2017 Big South title on its home court last Mar. 5 by a 76-59 margin over the seventh-seeded Camels.
Chris Clemons had 29 points to lead CU, while Xavier Cooks turned in a double-double with 17 points and 14 boards for the Eagles, who made 20-of-26 free throws, compared to just 6-of-7 for the visitors.
last time out
Campbell – David Efianayi tied his career high with 31 points, 26 after halftime, and Gardner-Webb rallied to defeat Campbell 82-80 in overtime Wednesday night at Gore Arena. The Runnin' Bulldogs overcame an 18-point deficit in the first half to win their fourth-straight game.
Marcus Burk led Campbell (6-8, 0-2) with 20 points;
Chris Clemons added 18,
Andrew Eudy a career-high 17 and
Shane Whitfield 10 for the Camels, who dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season.
Winthrop - Ed Polite, Jr. (23 points, 12 rebounds) and Randy Phillips (15-12) had double-doubles in Radford's 85-79 win Wednesday over the visiting Eagles. Radford led by 22 (53-31) at halftime and finished with a 46-29 edge on the boards. Bjorn Broman led five Winthrop players in double figures with a career-high 29 points (10-13 FG, 7-9 threes).
Notable:
- Since re-joining the Big South in 2011-12, Campbell is 5-7 overall against Winthrop, 3-2 vs. the Eagles at Gore Arena.
- Campbell and Winthrop did not face any common opponents in the non-conference schedule.
- Winthrop is 18-9 in Big South road games over the last 3 years, 0-1 this season.
- The team that has led at half-time has won the last six meetings between the Camels and Eagles.
- Winthrop held Campbell to 63, or fewer, points in its three meetings last year.
- After tying for the 2017 Big South regular season race and winning the league tournament, Winthrop was picked to finish 2nd in the 2017-18 league pre-season poll of head coaches and media.
- Following Saturday's game, the Camels hit the road to face Presbyterian Tuesday in a 7 p.m. start at Clinton, S.C.
