CU’s Trey Spencer (0) challenges a Bulldog defender.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
BUIES CREEK — Matt Frierson scored 24 points, Lew Stallworth added 21 and The Citadel defeated Campbell 82-76 Tuesday night at Gore Arena.
Zane Najdawi had 17 points and 13 rebounds and Kaiden Rice came off the bench to chip in 13 points for the Bulldogs (9-2), who extended their winning streak to seven games, the program’s longest in 10 years.
Chris Clemons finished 10 points under his nation-leading scoring average (31.0) with 21, while Cory Gensler contributed 18 points and Andrew Eudy 12 for the Camels (5-5), who set a school record for 40 three-point field goal attempts.
Campbell held the nation’s top-scoring team to 19 points below its average and a season-low seven three-pointers, more than half of its average (14.8 -also tops in the country), but the visitors knocked down 12 more free throws (23-31) than Campbell (8-11) attempted.
In a game that featured 15 lead changes and six ties, The Citadel led 33-30 at the break. However, Campbell grabbed a 47-44 lead on Gensler’s corner three with 13:25 to play. Eudy’s bucket cut the Citadel’s lead to 57-55 with 7:41 remaining, but the Camels were unable to get closer the rest of the way.
Gensler’s three again trimmed the gap to 77-74 with 25 seconds remaining, but Stallworth and Frierson combined to go 5-of-6 from the line in the last 24.1 to seal the victory.
Stallworth, a grad transfer from UTRGV, scored 15 of his points in the second period, pulled down 11 rebounds on the night and matched his season average for assists (7), a mark that stands 11th in the country. Frierson, who entered the contest second in the country in threes per game (5.1), knocked down 5-of-11 beyond the arc.
Overall, The Citadel shot 46 percent (26-56) from the floor, 23 percent (7-30) from 3-point distance and 74 percent (23-31) from the line while finishing with a 45-31 advantage on the boards. The Bulldogs have not lost since a 97-69 setback at Texas on Nov. 16. The Citadel’s only other loss was in the season opener Nov. 6 at 22nd-ranked Clemson.
Clemons, who was held to a season-low point total, was harassed by double-teams and zone chaser defenses all night, moved into 54th place on the NCAA Division I all-time points list (2,532). He extended his double-figure scoring streak to 92 games, longest among active D1 players and fourth-longest in NCAA Division I history.
Campbell concludes its pre-Christmas schedule this weekend in the St. Pete Shootout at St. Petersburg, Fla. The Camels face Austin Peay on Friday at 2:30 p.m., and will meet either Liberty or Alabama State on Saturday.
(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)
Campbell’s Chris Clemons rises on the offensive end.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
CU freshman Isaac Chatman scores under pressure.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Campbell’s Andrew Eudy (25) puts up a shot on Tuesday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Andrew Eudy plays defense in the low post.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Chris Clemons lofts a floater in the second half.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Cory Gensler drives to the basket for the Camels.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Campbell’s Cory Gensler (22) shoots from beyond the arc.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
