BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Looking to secure a first-round bye in next week's Big South Championship, Campbell (15-13, 9-7) hits the road to play at Charleston Southern (12-15, 7-9) Thursday in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off at the cozy "Buc Dome."
A win at Charleston would give Campbell a bye into the Big South quarterfinals next Thursday.
The Camels have won three of their last four games, including a 79-69 triumph Sunday over Liberty.
Chris Clemons scored 24 of his game-high 26 points in the second half,
Marcus Burk added 19 and
Damontez Oliver a career-high 12 for the Camels, who knocked down 15-of-27 threes overall and shot 63 percent from the field in the second half.
Charleston Southern saw its 3-game win streak end Sunday with an 85-80 OT loss to UNC Asheville. Christian Keeling had 27 points and 9 rebounds, but MaCio Teague scored 24 and Ahmad Thomas 23 for the Bulldogs in a game that featured 10 ties and 14 lead changes.
The Bucs have won 5 of their last 7 outings and the only losses came by two points (63-61) Feb. 3 at Gardner-Webb and at home to Asheville.
Last month in Buies Creek, Clemons scored 23 points,
Cory Gensler added 14, plus 9 rebounds, and Campbell defeated Charleston Southern 62-47 after limiting the Bucs to just 31 percent shooting. CU led 35-15 at halftime and the Bucs were unable to trim the gap to less than 14.
Campbell stands 1-2 in its last three trips to Charleston, but the two losses have come by a total of six points, including a 72-69 setback last year.
LAST TIME OUT
Campbell – Campbell shot 63 percent in the second period - 53 percent overall - and improved to 10-1 this season when making at least half of its shots. The Camels committed a season-low five turnovers while taking advantage of 11 Flames miscues to grab a 20-2 edge in points off turnovers.
Charleston Southern - Neither team led by more than 8 points in Sunday's OT loss to Asheville. The Bucs rallied from a five-point halftime deficit to force overtime and could have won in regulation, but Cortez Mitchell's 3-pointer missed. CSU shot 48 percent for the game and finished with a 12-4 edge in fast break points. In addition to Keelings' game-high 27 points, Jordan Jones added a career-high 16 off the bench, while Phandrous Fleming (12), Mitchell (11) also hit double figures.
CAMPBELL-CHARLESTON SOUTHERN NOTES
- The CSU Field House holds the distinction of being the smallest capacity (881) home court in the Division I ranks. Campbell's old venue -- Carter Gym -- was the country's smallest men's setting (947 seats) before CSU reconfigured its building. CU moved into the 3,095-seat Gore Arena before the 2008-09 season.
- Charleston Southern is 7-6 this season at home, 4-4 vs. Big South teams in the "Buc Dome." Campbell is 4-9 away from home this year, 3-5 at Big South foes. CU's league road wins have come at Presbyterian (83-79), Liberty (94-85) and Gardner-Webb (78-70).
- Charleston Southern's do-everything sophomore guard Christian Keeling ranks 3rd among Big South scoring leaders (17.6), 12th in rebounding (5.0), 10th in field goal percentage (.426), 9th in free throw accuracy (.800) and 13th in steals (1.3).
- In conference games only, CSU leads the league in turnover margin (+4.8) and steals (7.3).
Following Thursday's game, the Camels conclude the regular season Saturday at 4:30 p.m. against Presbyterian at Gore Arena.
