Gardner-Webb upsets Camels in Big South semifinals, CU in NIT

by Dunn Area Sports Staff | Mar 9, 2019 | Campbell, News & Features

Freshman Isaac Chatman had 18 points and nine rebounds for CU.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)

BUIES CREEK — Jose Perez scored 19 points to lead five Gardner-Webb players in double figures and the Bulldogs upset top-seeded Campbell 79-74 on Friday night at Gore Arena to earn a trip to the Big South Conference men’s basketball championship game.

For the second-straight year, Radford, which defeated Charleston Southern 63-54 earlier Friday, will host the league final — on Sunday at 1 p.m.

D.J. Laster added 17 points and Eric Jamison, Jr. had 14 points for fourth-seeded GWU (22-11), which shot 59.6 percent (28-47) from the floor.

Chris Clemons scored 23 points, dealt out four assists and had no turnovers for Campbell (20-12), which will receive a bid to the NIT after winning the league regular-season title. Cory Gensler had 20 points, while freshman Isaac Chatman hit career highs with 18 points and nine rebounds.

In front of the fourth-largest crowd (3,090) in Gore Arena history, the Camels led by as many as seven early and by two (40-34) at the break.

Jamison started a 13-2 run with a three and Gardner-Webb led 73-63 with 3:46 to play. The Camels responded and cut the gap to just 73-72 on Chatman’s triple with 2:00 to play.

On the ensuing possession, Chatman blocked Perez’ shot at the rim, but the Gardner-Webb freshman grabbed the loose ball and put it in to push the margin back to three (75-72) with 1:28 remaining. Campbell missed on its next two possessions. Christian Turner and Jaheam Cornwall made both ends of 1-and-1 chances in the final 9.7 seconds to seal the win.

Campbell shot 46 percent from the floor, made 12-of-30 threes, but only 4-of-8 from the line.

The nation’s third-leading scorer (30.3) who entered the game first in the nation in free throws made (238), Clemons went to the line just three times on the night. He extended his double-figure scoring streak to 114 games, one behind all-time leader Lionel Simmons of La Salle (1987-90).

With 3,193 points in 129 games, Clemons stands fourth on the Division I all-time scoring list, 24 behind Simmons, who scored 3,217 in his career.

The Camels have won 20 games for just the second time in their Division I era (1977-78) and their 57 victories are the most in a three-year span in that time frame.

(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)