Members of Campbell’s 1992 team were back in Buies Creek.
(Dunn Atea Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
BUIES CREEK — Campbell shot a season-best 60 percent from the field and defeated High Point, 77-72, in a Big South Conference men’s basketball matchup on Saturday at Gore Arena.
Jordan Whitfield and Jesus Carralero led five Camels into double figures with 14 points each as the Camels (12-7, 5-3 Big South) won their third straight game. Cedric Henderson, Jr. added 13 points, Messiah Thompson, 12, and Ricky Clemons, 10. The Camels made 29 of 48 shots and scored 22 points from 12 High Point turnovers.
Zach Austin (21) and Alex Holt (18) hit career scoring highs to lead High Point (9-12, 3-4), which had won its last two. The Big South’s scoring leader John-Michael Wright, who entered with a 19.7 average, finished with a season-low eight points on 3-of-12 shooting.
High Point cut a 16-point Campbell lead to just three at 79-72 when Wright made a 3-pointer with 1:46 to play. The Panthers made two turnovers and missed two of three shots in the last 1:07.
Henderson missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 25 seconds remaining, but Carralero grabbed the rebound and Austin McCullough made two free throws with 20 seconds to go to push the lead to 74-69. Bryant Randleman then lost the ball in the lane and Henderson sank a pair from the line to give the Camels a 7-point lead at 76-69 with 14 seconds left.
Campbell won its second-straight and third in the last four games with the Panthers, who shot 47.5 percent (28-59) Saturday and made 7-of-20 beyond the arc. The Camels made three more free throws (14-of-22) than High Point attempted (9-of-11).
Whitfield hit a three to give the Camels a 39-30 lead at the break, and Thompson scored on a drive with 15:04 to provide CU with its largest lead (54-38).
Whitfield made 5-of-10 shots, matched his career high with six assists, grabbed five rebounds and made two steals without a turnover in 38 minutes. Carralero hit 6-of-8 shots and pulled down a team-high six boards, while Henderson finished with three steals.
Austin led High Point with seven rebounds and knocked down 4-of-9 threes. Randleman finished with eight points and six assists.
Campbell shot 62 percent in the opening half to take a nine-point lead at the break. Carralero, Henderson and Whitfield each scored eight first-half points.
High Point trailed by 12 midway through the opening period, but the Panthers reeled off 11 unanswered points to close within 24-23 on Austin’s wing here with 7:34 to play.
Campbell scored 13 points off seven High Point first half turnovers and held Wright to just three points before the break on one of seven shooting.
Members of Campbell’s 1992 Big South Conference champion and NCAA tournament participant team were recognized at halftime. Among those in attendance were coach Billy Lee, assistant coaches Gary Elmore and Joel Haskins, Salaam Hall, Jared Harrison, Jerome Holley, Doug Mitchell, Mark Mocnik and Bobby Murray.
Campbell improved to 8-2 at home this year, 4-1 vs. Big South teams at Gore Arena, while High Point dropped to 1-8 on the road and is winless is four away games vs. league opponents.
Campbell begins a 2-game road stretch Wednesday at Presbyterian at 7 p.m.
(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)
Messiah Thompson scores for the Camels on Saturday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Cedric Henderson Jr. goes in for a slam against High Point.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Ricky Clemons finishes on the offensive end for the Camels.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Jesus Carralero scores in Campbell’s 77-72 win at Gore Arena.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Joshua Lusane scores inside in Campbell’s second straight win.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Austin McCullough made two free throws for a 74-69 lead.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
