Chris Clemons continued to rewrite the record book Wednesday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
BUIES CREEK — Chris Clemons set a Gore Arena record with a season-high 48 points to lead Campbell to an 87-84 win over Hampton on Wednesday night.
In the process, the nation’s leading scorer (29.8) moved by Danny Manning and Oscar Robertson into ninth place on the NCAA Division I all-time scoring list as the Camels (15-10, 8-3) won their fourth in the last five.
Clemons set a school Division I era (since 1977-78) single-game record for free throws made (22) and attempted (24), ran his double-figure scoring streak to 107 games — the longest among active Division I players and fourth-longest all-time — and broke the Big South Conference career 3-point mark (412) as well on a night when the outcome wasn’t determined until the final seconds.
The lead changed nine time and the score was tied on 10 occasions. The Camels shot 50.9 percent (27-53) from the floor and knocked down 23-of-28 from the line to hold off the Pirates (10-14, 5-6).
Last month in a 64-58 loss at Hampton, Clemons was held to a season-low 14 points. On Wednesday, he scored 23 in the opening period to stake the Camels to a 42-39 lead. He hit 7-of-8 from the line in the final 56.4 seconds to hold off a Pirate rally.
Andrew Eudy added 11 points, four assists and three blocks in only 26 minutes before fouling out with 59.8 seconds to play. Isaac Chatman chipped in eight points and drew three charges, while Cory Gensler scored eight and matched Clemons with seven rebounds. Clemons also dealt four assists while making 11-of-21 from the field, including 4-of-9 beyond the 3-point arc and topping the 40-point barrier for the third time this season.
Kalin Fisher led Hampton, which has lost four-straight outings, with a season-high 34 points on 12-of-21 shooting, including 5-of-9 threes. Jermaine Marrow, who entered the contest as the nation’s sixth-leading scorer (24.9), finished with 20 points — 14 in the final period — on 7-of-19 shooting, plus a game-high six assists.
With 2,978 points in 122 games, Clemons moved by Manning (2,951 in his career at Kansas from 1984-88) late in the first half. His foul shot with 50 seconds to play in the final period moved Clemons past Robertson, who scored 2,973 in his career at Cincinnati from 1957-60.
Clemons scored 10 points and assisted on Gensler’s three during a 13-3 first-half run that gave the Camels their largest lead (35-27) with 3:48 to play in the period. Fisher’s triple capped a 10-2 Hampton burst that tied the score at 37 with 1:38 to go.
Campbell shot 54 percent from the field in the opening period and limited the Pirates to just 35 percent shooting in the same span, but Hampton stayed close thanks to seven 3s and eight, second-chance points.
Fisher’s pullup in the lane gave Hampton a 50-46 edge, the visitors’ largest of the night, with 14:37 to play. Clemson made two from the line on the next trip and neither team led by more than three until Jordan Whitfield’s steal and corner three staked the Camels to a 64-59 edge with 7:51 left.
Hampton cut the gap to a single point on three occasions — the last on Marrow’s foul shots with 3.5 seconds to play that pulled the Pirates within 85-84. Clemons was able to get free on the inbound and sank a pair with 2.8 ticks for the final margin.
Campbell, which entered the contest 22nd in the nation and atop the Big South in fewest turnovers per game (10.9), committed only seven Wednesday night, while knocking down 10 threes. Hampton finished with a 37-30 edge on the boards, 14-4 in second-chance points, hit 43 percent of its shots, 12-of-33 (.364) from 3-point range, and 16-of-19 free throws (.842).
Standing third in the Big South behind Radford (10-1) and Winthrop (9-3), Campbell travels to Presbyterian (15-12, 7-5) for a 4 p.m. tipoff Saturday. Last month, the Camels edged the Blue Hose 77-73 in Buies Creek behind Eudy’s career-high 30 points and 26 from Clemons, who also dealt out six assists.
(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)
Chris Clemons soars for a slam in a win over Hampton.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Cory Gensler goes in for a layup for Campbell.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Two points on a two-handed dunk for Chris Clemons.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Isaac Chatman (24) drives for CU in an 87-84 win over Hampton.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Chris Clemons made 22 of 24 free throws on Wednesday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Chris Clemons goes aggressively to the basket.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Andrew Eudy shields the ball from a defender and puts up a shot.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
