Campbell downs Upstate

by Dunn Area Sports Staff | Feb 5, 2023 | Campbell, News & Features

Ricky Clemons kicks out for the Camels against Upstate.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)

BUIES CREEK — Ricky Clemons led four Campbell players in double figures with 17 points and the Camels defeated USC Upstate 78-66, in Big South Conference men’s basketball Wednesday night at Gore Arena.

Anthony Dell’Orso added 16 points, while Devon Dunn and Juan Reyna came off the bench to contribute 14 each for Campbell (10-13, 5-6 Big South), which won its third game in its last four outings.

Trae Broadnax led USC Upstate (9-13, 4-7) with 20 points, Jordan Gainey added 15 and Justin Bailey had 13 for the Spartans, who dropped their fourth straight contest.

Campbell shot 59.5 percent (25-42) overall, hit eight of 13 threes (.615) and knocked down 20 of 26 free throws to earn a season sweep of its league opponent.

Clemons made four of six from the floor, sank nine of-t12 free throws and dished out five assists while committing only one turnover in 37 minutes. Dell’Orso reached double figures for the fourth time in the last five games. Dunn and Reyan made five of six shots from the floor as the Camel bench outscored Upstate’s reserves, 31-16.

Campbell made 13 of its first 18 shots, including four of seven threes, and jumped to a 36-20 lead on Reyna’s transition layup. The Spartans, however, closed the opening period on an 8-0 run to cut CU’s lead to eight (36-28) at the break. Upstate extended its run to 15-1 around halftime and pulled within 37-35 on Gainey’s fast break layup with 17:27 to play.

Gainey’s three with 14:07 remaining cut Campbell’s lead to 43-40, but the Spartans drew no closer.

Campbell stretched the margin to 63-49 on Dell’Orso’s acrobatic layup with 6:11 left, but the Spartans made it a two-possession game (69-63) after Gainey scored in transition.

Campbell sank seven of 10 from the line over the last 1:42. Laurynas Vaistaras and Jay Pal each blocked shots in the last 55 seconds to spark a closing stretch where the Camels made defensive stops on five of the final six possessions.

(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)