Chris Clemons of CU dunks in a first-round CBI win over Miami of Ohio. (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
BUIES CREEK, N.C. — After a red-hot shooting performance in its first-round win over Miami (Ohio), Campbell (17-15) hosts New Orleans (16-16) on Monday at 7 p.m. in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) quarterfinals.
Campbell shot 62.3 percent on the night, 68 percent (17-25) in the second half, and canned 16-of-30 from 3-point range in its 97-87 victory over the MAC member RedHawks. Chris
Clemons scored 32 points and became Campbell’s all-time leading scorer late in the first half. Damontez Oliver added a career-high 19 points (5-7 threes), Marcus Burk chipped in
16 and Mogga Lado added 11 for the Camels, who used a late 13-2 run to secure their eighth win in the last nine games at Gore Arena.
The nation’s fourth-leading scorer (24.8), Clemons has tallied 2,179 points in 95 career games, 26 more than Jonathan Rodriguez, who had 2,153 in his career from 2006-10.
One of seven Southland Conference teams to earn postseason bids, New Orleans (16-16, 11-7) finished fifth in the league standings. The Privateers, who advanced to the NCAA tournament
last year, opened CBI play with a 77-74 victory over UT-Rio Grande Valley.
Freshman guard Lamont Berzat hit career highs with 21 points and 10 assists. Damion Rosser added 14 points and Ezekiel Charles 12 for the Privateers, who shot 58 percent in the second
half and finished with a 20-7 edge in points off turnovers.
The CBI is a single-elimination tournament up until the best-of-three finals, with all games played at campus sites. Prior to Wednesday’s (Mar. 21) semifinals, the remaining teams will be
re-bracketed. The finals series is a best-of-three in which one team will host two of the three games. Those games will be played on March 26, March 28, and March 30.
Notes
. Over the last five games, Campbell sophomore Damontez Oliver is averaging 11.8 points and shooting 64 percent (18-28) from the floor, 63.6 percent (14-22) from 3-point range.
. Monday’s game marks the second-straight year Campbell will face a member of the Southland Conference in postseason play. Last season, Campbell defeated Houston Baptist 98-79
in the opening round of the CIT. UNO is making its second-straight postseason appearance after dropping a 67-66 decision to Mount St. Mary’s in the 2017 NCAA First Four.
. The Privateers are the second Southland team to play in Gore Arena this year. Campbell dropped an 85-80 overtime decision to Abilene Christian on Nov. 24 in the Creek Classic.
. Big South Conference members are 0-3 vs. Southland teams this year, dropping games to Abilene Christian (Campbell 85-80, OT), Nicholls State (Presbyterian 76-64) and Stephen F. Austin (Longwood 74-61).
. UNO is 12-0 when scoring 70 or more points this season.
. The Privateers are 5-12 in road games this year after going 5-4 in Southland play away from home.
. Campbell stands 13-4 at Gore Arena this year and has won eight of its last nine at home.
. Making its second-straight postseason appearance, Campbell is participating in the CBI for the first time. Campbell defeated Houston Baptist and UT-Martin last year before falling to
Furman in the CIT quarterfinals.
. The Camels are one of only two teams from North Carolina still alive in postseason play. Duke remains in the NCAA tournament, while the Camels are the lone in-state school still alive
in the NIT, CBI and CIT. N.C. Central lost in the NCAA First Four. Davidson, N.C. State and UNC Greensboro fell in the first round and North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA
Tournament. UNC Asheville lost in overtime at Southern Cal in the first round of the NIT. NC A&T lost at Liberty in the opening round of the CIT. \
. Notable UNO alumni include comedian, TV host and actress Ellen DeGeneres, Emmy and Tony award winning actor John Larroquette (Nightcourt) and Atlanta Braves manager Brian
Snitker.
. UNO competed in the NCAA Division II ranks from 1969-75 before moving to Division I in 1975 and becoming a charter member of the Sun Belt Conference. The Privateers made
four NCAA tournament appearances between 1987 and 1996. UNO dropped to NCAA Division III in 2010 before returning to DI in 2013 and joining the Southland Conference.
. UNO won the 2017 Southland tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 21 years.
. Former UNO standout Ledell Eackles was a 1988 second round pick of the Washington Bullets and went on to play seven seasons in the NBA. His son, Ledell Eackles, played in 59
games for the Camels from 2005-07 and still ranks seventh in school history in assists (294) and eighth in steals (145). Eackles set the school single game record with 10 steals vs. UNC Pembroke (Nov. 11, 2006).
2018 College Basketball Invitational
First Round (Home Team in CAPS)
UTAH VALLEY 87, Eastern Washington 65
SAN FRANCISCO 72, Colgate 68
North Texas 90, SOUTH DAKOTA 77
Mercer 78, GRAND CANYON 73
CAMPBELL 97, Miami (Ohio) 87
NEW ORLEANS 77, UTRGV 74
Central Arkansas 92, SEATTLE 90 (OT)
Jacksonville State 80, CANISIUS 78 (OT)
Monday, March 19 (Second Round)
Jacksonville State at Central Arkansas (6:30 p.m.)
New Orleans at Campbell (7 p.m.)
Mercer at North Texas (8 p.m.)
Utah Valley at San Francisco (10 p.m.)
Wednesday, March 21 (Semifinals)
Pairings TBA
Championship Series (Best of three)
Monday, March 26
Wednesday, March 28
Friday, March 30 (if necessary)
(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)
