BUIES CREEK, N.C. - A three-pointer by Chris Clemons with three seconds to go completed an 18-point second half comeback, and sent the Campbell Camels to a 66-65 win over the VMI Keydets in non-conference basketball action Monday night in Buies Creek, N.C.
The Keydets (2-3) led by 18 on two different occasions, the last of which came with 14:24 remaining, but Campbell (4-2) chipped away and was within six with 5:43 to go, 60-54. VMI junior guard QJ Peterson made a basket at the 5:11 mark, pushing the lead back to eight, but that would be VMI's last field goal of the night. The home team closed the game on a 12-3 run that included not only the game-winning three-pointer by Clemons, but another that gave Campbell a brief lead with 47 seconds remaining.
The Keydets were led by Peterson's 20 points and seven rebounds, while guard Julian Eleby added 18 markers and Trey Chapman had the first double-double of his collegiate career with a 10-point, 11-rebound night.
VMI made just one of last nine attempts from the floor in regulation with Peterson's field goal the lone made shot.
The Camels placed five in double figures scoring and was led by center D.J. Mason with 16 points and 13 rebounds while forward Shane Whitfield added 13 points, all in the second half to help rally the home team.
Campbell, which had posted second half comeback wins over SIU-Edwardsville and Coastal Carolina last week, seemed unlikely to repeat the scenario when the Keydets stretched a 35-24 halftime lead into an 18-point bulge (48-30) following a 3-pointer by freshman Adrian Rich at the 15:42 mark. Peterson, who scored nine of VMI's first 16 points of the second half, later followed with a 3-pointer from up top to again give the Keydets an 18-point advantage at 51-33 with 14:24 remaining.
The Camels chipped away with a 16-7 run over the next 6:21 to carve the deficit to single digits (58-49) capped by a pair of free throws by Mason at the 8:03 mark. Philip Anglade followed with a jumper on VMI's next possession, but the basket produced what would be VMI's last double-digit lead as the Camels outscored the Keydets 17-5 over the last 6:34 of regulation.
Clemons 3-pointer with :47 left gave the Camels its first lead since the 17:24 mark of the first half at 63-62, but Peterson put the Keydets back on top with a pair of free throws with :33 left. Mason missed a jumper and fouled Anglade on the rebound with :14 remaining, but Anglade converted just one of two on the 1 and 1 which set the stage for the Clemons game winner.
The Keydets dominated a first half that saw them hold the Camels to 25.9% shooting from the floor including one of nine beyond the arc. The Keydets also generated 10 assists in the first half – four by Rich – but had just three assists in the second half. VMI also held a 23-17 first half advantage on the boards including 20-12 on the defensive glass, but the Camels reversed course and outrebounded VMI 23-19 after halftime.
Campbell went 9 of 17 from the line in the first half, but improved to 12 of 14 after halftime. VMI hit eight of 13 from the stripe for the game.
The Keydets return home to face Central Penn Wednesday night at Cameron Hall at 7 p.m.
VMI Head Coach Dan Earl –
“It certainly hurts. That last shot goes in. If it doesn't , you feel better about things. We have to learn to play better with a lead. We were getting very good shots early on in the first half and second half as well. We got a little tight and didn't share the ball quite as much as we should. I was proud of the guys for the effort, but we should certainly learn from this game.”
“We did a good job rebounding and limiting them to one shot in the first half and in the second half it seemed like it was bouncing around multiple times. We didn't come up with those 50-50 balls and that's the game of basketball. “
“Our guys will respond and we'll learn from it and be ready to go Wednesday night.”
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