Virginia Commonwealth comes from 16 down to top Camels

by Dunn Area Sports Staff | Dec 5, 2021 | Campbell, News & Features

Jesus Carralero scores for Campbell on Saturday at VCU.
(Photo/Bennett Scarborough/Scarborough Photography)

RICHMOND, VA — Vince Williams scored 14 points and VCU rallied to defeat Campbell, 65-61, in men’s basketball on Saturday at the Siegel Center.

In a game that featured 10 lead changes and four ties, Keshawn Curry added 12 points, while Levi Stockard III and Jayden Nunn had 10 apiece for the Rams (4-4), who trailed by as many as 16 in the first half.

Cedric Henderson, Jr. led Campbell (6-2) with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Jesus Carralero added 19 points, six boards and six assists for the Camels, who cut a 9-point VCU lead with 4:18 to play to just two in the final 26 seconds.

Nunn hit both ends of a one-and-one with 20 seconds remaining and the Camels missed twice on the next trip.

Campbell, which was on a four-game win streak since a 67-56 loss Nov. 12 at No. 9 Duke, shot 46 percent (25-54) from the field, made 6-of-21 (.286) threes, but only 5-of-9 from the line. The Camels pulled down just one less rebound (33-32) than the Rams, but VCU scored 13 second-chance points off 10 offensive boards.

VCU shot 44 percent (24-55) overall, made 7-of-20 threes (.35) and 10-of-15 from the line.

Campbell rode an early 17-0 run and made its first seven shots to jump to a 20-5 lead on Henderson’s wing three with 13:20 left in the opening period.

The Rams responded with a 14-2 burst to get back in the game and took a 31-30 lead on Nunn’s three with 1:58 to play. Carralero scored on a step back jumper to give the Camels a 32-31 edge at the break.

The Camels shot 55 percent (12-22) from the floor before intermission and made 4-of-9 threes.

Messiah Thompson’s pullup three with 7:48 to play gave the Camels a 54-51 lead, but CU went scoreless over the next 5:46 while VCU scored 12 unanswered points, capped by Josh Banks’ wing three in transition.

Henderson’s layup through contact ended the drought and pulled the Camels within 63-56 with 2:02 to go. Campbell steals produced Henderson’s drive in transition and Carralero’s follow shot to pull the Camels within 63-61 with 26 seconds to play before the Rams held on late.

Campbell returns home Tuesday with a 7 p.m. tipoff against Columbia International.

(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)