WASHTINGTON, D.C. – The Fighting Camels stunned top-seeded UNCW 85-70 to advance to the CAA quarterfinals. The Camels now advance to the CAA semifinals for the first time in program history.
 
Campbell now sits at 16-17 on the season, while UNCW suffered just its sixth loss and ends 26-6.
 
UNCW downed Campbell twice in close games during the regular season, but it was Campbell that played the better game for 30 minutes in the CAA quarters to upend the Seahawks.
 
Campbell became the first 9-seed to reach the CAA semifinals in conference history, and awaits the winner of (4) Monmouth vs (5) Drexel, tomorrow night at 6 p.m. The Camels also ensure only the third time in conference history the top overall seed did not reach the semis, happening in both 1991 and 2021 before today's events.
 
The Seahawks jumped out to an early lead, going ahead 21-10 lead after nine minutes of action. That tended as the largest lead of the day for UNCW, with Campbell storming back and knotting things up at 31-31 just before the halftime score of 33-31, Seahawks.
 
It was all Campbell after halftime, outscoring UNCW 54-37 in the final 20 minutes. Down one, the Camels reeled off a 16-0 run to go up 15, and eventually pushed the lead to as large as 19 with 6:41 to go. DJ Smith ignited the run with back-to-back three-pointers, and Chris Fields Jr. added a couple buckets of his own at the rim.
 
UNCW threatened down the stretch, but never cut the deficit to single digits, with Campbell again rock solid at the foul line. After not shooting a free throw in the first half, Campbell shot a dazzling 26-31 (84%) at the stripe in the second half to hold off any late charge.
 
DJ Smith led four Camels in double figures with 20 points. Johnson added 17 thanks to a perfect 10-10 at the foul line. Butka logged 14 points and Chris Fields Jr. scored 11 off the bench. Butka stuffed the stat sheet again, this time with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists.
 
UNCW was paced by 21 apiece from Patrick Wessler and Madison Durr.
 
Campbell last reached a conference tournament semifinal in 2023, ultimately reaching the Big South title game.
 
The CAA semifinal game tips off Monday night at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network.