Camels defeat Elon, 60-46

by Dunn Area Sports Staff | Dec 17, 2019 | Articles, Campbell, News & Features

Cory Gensler shoots for the Camels on Tuesday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)

BUIES CREEK — Campbell held Elon to just two field goals over the last 7:40 of the game and went on to claim a 60-46 nonconference win Tuesday night at Gore Arena.

Cedric Henderson, Jr. led the Camels (7-3) with 15 points, Trey Spencer added 13 points, four assists and four steals, and Jordan Whitfield tacked on 12 points and six boards as the Camels remained unbeaten (3-0) at home this year.

Stanford graduate transfer Marcus Sheffield II led Elon (4-8) with 14 points and Zac Ervin added 11, but the Phoenix made just 6-of-24 (.250) threes and never led.

In the first meeting between the in-state rivals since the 1999-2000 season, Campbell jumped to a 14-2 lead in the first 6:41. Elon rallied and wrapped a 9-2 spurt around halftime to pull within 25-23 on Hunter Woods’ put-back with 19:37 to play.

However, the Camels held Elon to 0-of-9 shooting from the floor in a 10-0 burst that extended to a 15-2 run after Spencer made both ends of a 1-and-1 with 12:31 left and gave the hosts a 40-25 edge.

Elon was able to cut the gap to 45-38 on Ervin’s triple with 7:42 to play, but Campbell again responded with a big run, this time 12-unanswered points, and led by as many as 19.

In the second half, the Camels held a 14-0 edge in points off turnovers and committed only two miscues during the span.

Henderson scored 10 of his game-high 15 points in the second half and hit double figures for the fifth-straight game. Spencer’s four steals were a career high and his four assists were one shy of his career-best mark while playing 32 minutes without a turnover.

In his second game back after missing four due to injury, Whitfield scored nine of his season-high 12 points in the final period. Joshua Lusane came off the bench to add seven points and three steals, while Milos Stajcic finished with seven points and six rebounds despite being limited to 15 minutes by foul trouble.

Ja’Cor Nelson did not play after sustaining an ankle injury in a 79-67 loss at East Carolina on Saturday, but Camels coach Kevin McGeehan said he expects Nelson to return soon.

Campbell shot 50 percent from the floor in the second half, 44 percent (22-50) on the night. CU made 7-of-22 threes and 9-of-14 from the free throw line while battling the Phoenix evenly on the glass (32-32).

Elon made 34.8 percent (16-46) of its shots and committed 17 turnovers.

The Camels won for the third time in their last four games, while Elon dropped to 0-5 on the road this season.

Campbell closes its pre-Christmas slate Saturday when it hosts Johnson & Wales in a 1 p.m. tipoff.

All tickets will be $5 and fans will have the opportunity to meet and take photos with Camel mascots Gaylord and Gladys, who will be dressed in Santa outfits for the day.

(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)