BUIES CREEK, N.C. – After dropping its first two Big South games by a total of eight points, Campbell (7-6, 0-2) returns home to face Charleston Southern (3-11, 0-2 Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
The game will air on ESPN+ with
Evan Budrovich and George Miller on the call. According to University Health & Safety guidelines, only essential personnel - and no spectators - will be allowed at home Campbell events through Jan. 19.
Campbell dropped a 60-54 decision to UNC Asheville in its Big South opener last Wednesday.
The Camels fell 74-72 Monday at Winthrop in a matchup of preseason Big South divisional favorites. In a game that included 14 ties and 10 lead changes, the Eagles rallied from a six-point deficit with 2:59 to go.
Drew Buggs hit a fadeaway jumper with 4 seconds to play to give Winthrop the lead.
Jordan Whitfield's pullup three from 25 feet at the final horn was on target, but just short and bounded off the front rim.
Cedric Henderson, Jr. led the Camels with 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Whitfield added a season-best 17, while Jesus Carralero finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Charleston Southern has dropped its last five games and nine of its last 10 outings. The Bucs have been outscored by an average of 24 points in their first two Big South games.
CSU fell 88-63 Jan. 5 in its league opener to Gardner-Webb before falling 82-59 Saturday at UNC Asheville. Eastern Kentucky transfer Cheikh Faye hit career highs with 19 points and 9 rebounds at Asheville, while freshman Taje' Kelly added a season-best 16 points off the bench.
- Campbell has held 12 of its 13 opponents below 70 points and ranks first in the Big South, 25th in the nation, in scoring defense (60.8). CU also tops the BSC in defensive rebounding percentage (.777) and is 3rd in FG% defense (.416).
- Four Camels rank among the Big South's top 30 scorers - Cedric Henderson, Jr. (12th, 12.5), Jesus Carralero (15th, 11.6), Ricky Clemons (27th, 10.2), Jordan Whitfield (28th, 10.0).
- Five CSU players score better than 8 points per game led by Tahlik Chavez (9.7) and Claudell Harris, Jr. (9.3).
- Following Wednesday's game, the Camels entertain Radford Saturday afternoon (2:00).
CAMPBELL-CHARLESTON SOUTHERN NOTES
- Campbell owns a 29-28 edge in the all-time series with the Bucs, including an 11-7 advantage since Campbell re-joined the Big South Conference in 2011-12. The Camels have won 3-straight, 4 of the last 5 and 7 of the last 10 games against Charleston Southern.
- Last year, the Camels swept a pair of games in Buies Creek. On Jan. 29, Ricky Clemons' 3-point play with 10 seconds to play and a final defensive stop lifted Campbell to a 59-58 win - its first in a school Division I era 9-game victory stretch. Phlandrous Fleming had a chance to win the contest, but his 3-pointer hit the back of the rim and bounced away as time expired. Cedric Henderson, Jr. CU with 23 points, Joshua Lusane added 10 points, a career-high 9 assists and seven rebounds, and Clemons scored all 10 of his points in the final period.
- One night later, Henderson led four Camels in double figures with 18 points and Campbell rallied to defeat Charleston Southern 75-67. Jordan Whitfield added 16 points, Joshua Lusane 12 (plus 12 rebounds) and Messiah Thompson 10 for the Camels, who trailed 38-28 at halftime, but shot 60 percent from the floor after the break.
- The CSU Field House holds the distinction of being the 2nd-smallest capacity (881) home court in the Division I ranks (USC Upstate's Hodge Center seats 833). Campbell's old venue -- Carter Gym -- was the country's smallest men's setting (947 seats) before CSU reconfigured its building and Upstate joined D1. CU moved into the 3,095-seat Gore Arena before the 2008-09 season.
- Campbell and Charleston Southern have met twice in Big South Championship games. The Bucs claimed the 1987 final 64-63 at Savannah, Ga. Campbell won the 1992 title game 67-53 to secure its first NCAA tournament berth.
- Along with Radford, Winthrop and UNC Asheville, Campbell and Charleston Southern are original members of the Big South Conference since league play began in 1985-86. Campbell was a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference from 1994-2011.
- Notable Charleston Southern alumni include U.S. Senator Tim Scott, 1992 Olympic triple jump silver medalist Charlie Simpkins, plus MLB pitchers Bobby Parnell (2008-16) and Tyler Thornburg (2012-20).
