BOILING SPRINGS – Chris Clemons scored 33 points and Campbell used an 11-0 run to seize control in the final three minutes to pick up a 78-70 win over Gardner-Webb Wednesday night.
Gardner-Webb (12-14, 7-6 Big South) saw its 12-game home win streak snapped, despite 19 points and 10 boards from
DJ Laster. The win streak was the longest in Gardner-Webb's Division I era (since 2002-2003).
The Runnin' Bulldogs led 66-65 with 3:05 remaining after a layup, foul and free throw from
Liam O'Reilly. Campbell (13-12, 7-6 Big South) regained the lead on a Shane Whitfield cut and layup with 2:54 remaining, which sparked the game-deciding run.
A cut and dunk by Andrew Eudy pushed the lead to 69-66 and Clemons cut backdoor and took a feed from Eudy for a dunk himself with 1:35 left for a 71-66 edge. That forced a Gardner-Webb timeout, but the 'Dogs missed their third consecutive jumper – and Clemons sank a contested three late in the shot clock for a 74-66 lead with only 53.7 seconds remaining.
A pair of free throws by Marcus Burk pushed the lead to 76-66 with 39.4 seconds left, capping the 11-0 run and putting the game out of reach.
Gardner-Webb led 34-33 at halftime behind Laster and
David Efianayi's seven points each. Clemons had 16 points at the break, keeping his team in the game with several very difficult makes from long range.
After Campbell surged in front 41-38 early in the second half, O'Reilly drained a trey with 16:36 left to tie the score. The Fighting Camels went on a 16-8 run from there, going in front 57-49 with 10:29 left on Jordan Whitfield's third three-pointer of the half – his second off an assist from his brother Shane Whitfield.
Gardner-Webb clawed back into the game with a 14-6 spurt, tying the game at 63-63 on an Efianayi three ball from the top of the key with 3:50 left in the game. Those points gave the Orlando, Fla., junior 1,001 for his career with the Runnin' Bulldogs.
After Clemons made two free throws to put Campbell back in front out of the media timeout, O'Reilly drove for his layup and was fouled with 3:05 left. The free throw put GWU up 66-65, but the Fighting Camels had their game-changing rally in store.
Campbell shot a strong 53.6 percent in the second half to key the win, making 15-of-28 shots overall and 4-of-9 from long range (44.4 percent). The Fighting Camels made 12-of-27 overall for the game from deep (44.4 percent), and shot 45.8 percent from the floor.
Campbell also held a slight 35-34 edge on the glass and got 12 points each from brothers Jordan and Shane Whitfield. The younger Jordan Whitfield finished 4-of-6 from long distance, while the elder Shane Whitfield finished with five rebounds and five assists. Burk made his first two shots Wednesday night and added 11 points for the visitors.
Clemons became the first junior in Big South Conference history to reach 2,000 career points, doing so with his 27th marker of the game on Wednesday night. He finished 10-of-20 from the floor and made six three-pointers.
Gardner-Webb finished at 42.1 percent for the game (40.6 percent in the second half) and held a slight edge in the paint (+6), but saw Campbell score 14 points off its 13 turnovers. GWU also made just 6-of-22 from long distance (27.3 percent).
Laster was 8-of-10 from the floor for his 19 points and pulled down seven of his 10 caroms on the defensive glass. Efianayi finished with 16 points, but had a 5-of-14 night shooting with six turnovers.
O'Reilly netted 15 points in the game, but made just 6-of-17 shots.
Justin Jenkins came off the bench to score eight points and
Jaheam Cornwall scored seven in a reserve role.
Gardner-Webb will have a tough road test up next, traveling to face Liberty in Lynchburg, Va., on Saturday night. The game is set to tip at 7:00 pm in the Vines Center. The Runnin' Bulldogs have not won in Lynchburg since February 11, 2014.