Dec. 11, 2010

Box Score |   

Buies Creek, N.C. - Campbell put four players in double-figures led by the double-double of Marvelle Harris with 10 points and 14 rebounds as the Fighting Camels downed Western Carolina, 73-50, Friday night in nonconference action at the Gore Arena.

The loss was the third-straight for the Catamounts, relegating WCU to 4-7 overall on the season while Campbell (5-3) picked up its third-straight victory.

WCU freshman Brandon Boggs buried a 3-pointer near the top of the key at the 8:30 mark of the second half to pull the Catamounts back within six points, 56-50. However, it was the last points the Catamounts would put on the scoreboard the remainder of the game as the Camels closed with a 17-to-0 run to provide the final margin.

Over the final 8:30, Western Carolina missed its final nine field goals and two free throws while also committing three turnovers during Campbell's decisive run.

Junior Keaton Cole was the lone Catamount to score in double figures, connecting on four 3-pointers for 12 points to lead the squad. Richie Gordon scored six of WCU's first nine points from the floor and finished with nine points and a team-best six rebounds, while both Trey Sumler and Harouna Mutombo both added nine points in the loss.

WCU leading scorer Mike Williams was held to a season-low two points on 1-for-7 shooting. He did, however, match his career-high with six assists and swiped four of the Catamounts' 11 steals.

In addition to Harris' 10 points and 14 boards, Martell Jackson added 15 points and Lorne Merthie had 12 for the Camels.

Campbell took a 35-30 lead into halftime, then widened the gap to 42-30 while holding the Catamounts scoreless the first 2:40 of the second half. Western Carolina got to 46-43, but Campbell used a 10-2 run to regain the momentum ahead of the decisive run over the final 8:30.

Campbell shot 50 percent from the field (24 of 48), including 54.5 percent in the second half (12 of 22). Western Carolina was 18 of 55 for the game (32.7 percent) and 6 of 24 in the second half (25 percent).

Western Carolina travels to No. 2 Ohio State on Sunday afternoon for a 2:00 pm tip-off at historic St. John's Arena in Columbus. The game will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network with a 1:30 pm air time, with live streaming video available through www.BigTenNetwork.com.

Post-Game Notes:
- Campbell's win was its first in the series since 1991 - which prior to last season was the most-recent series meeting ... WCU continues to lead the all-time series, 21-4, overall despite the loss;

- Friday night's game was the first-ever played between Campbell and Western Carolina contested in the town of Buies Creek ... Previously, the Camels' home games were played in the Cumberland County Civic Center in Fayetteville with one additional game played in the old Raleigh Civic Center;

- Western Carolina's leading scorer entering the game, Mike Williams, was held to a season-low two points on 1-for-7 shooting, snapping his streak of six-straight double-digit scoring efforts on the year;

- Junior Keaton Cole scored in double figures for the fifth-time this season and the second time in as many games ... Cole scored a career-best 17 points at Chattanooga last Saturday, backing it up with a dozen at Campbell on Friday night ... Cole has reached double digits in three of his last four games ... Since moving into the starting lineup six games ago, Cole is averaging 10.2 points per game.