ASHEVILLE — Chris Clemons scored 17 of his game-high 22 points in the second half and Andrew Eudy added his third double-double of the year to lead Campbell to a 70-53 Big South Conference men’s basketball win over UNC Asheville on Wednesday night at Kimmel Arena.
The Camels (9-8, 2-1) used an early 15-0 run to move in front and led for the final 36:14 of the game. Asheville (2-16, 0-4) dropped its sixth straight contest after committing 20 turnovers that led to 30 Campbell points.
Clemons made 6-of-11 threes and dealt out three assists while moving by Hank Gathers of Loyola Marymount (2,723 from 1986-90) into 19th place on the Division I all-time scoring list. A senior from Raleigh, Clemons now has 2,728 points in 114 games.
Eudy scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Camels, who shot just 39 percent (25-65) from the floor, but made 11-of-25 threes (.440) and finished with a 30-4 edge in points off turnovers. Ja’Cor Nelson matched his career high with six assists for the Camels, who had 21 dishes compared to just seven turnovers.
DeVon Baker led Asheville with 15 points on 7-of-18 shooting, while L.J. Thorpe added 11 for the Bulldogs, who shot 47 percent (21-45) from the field.
CU stretched its 11-point halftime edge to as many as 21 when Clemons connected on a deep three with 4:14 to play that put the Camels ahead 66-45.
Campbell used a 15-0 run early and led by as many as 17 (30-13) before taking a 33-22 edge into the dressing room. All nine Camels who played in the opening half scored and the Camels hounded UNCA into 13 first-half turnovers that CU converted into 19 points.
CU has committed only 20 turnovers in its first three Big South games, while forcing 44 opponent miscues.
The nation’s leading scorer (29.6 ppg), Clemons extended his double-figure scoring streak to 99 games, the longest among all active players and fourth best in Division I history.
The Camels return to action Saturday in a 5:30 p.m. start at Charleston Southern.
(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)
