Title image via Kevin Dorsey
78
Winner N.C. Central 3-3,0-0 MEAC
75
Campbell 1-3,0-0 CAA
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT 1 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N.C. Central | 38 | 33 | 7 | 78 |
| Campbell | 34 | 37 | 4 | 75 |
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – In a 78-75 thriller at the Creek Classic, the North Carolina Central University men’s basketball team won over Campbell University on Monday. Senior Fred Cleveland Jr.scored a career-high 24 points, hitting five threes and assisting on six field goals.
In the second game of the day at Gore Arena, Campbell did all they could to gain control over NCCU at home. There were 24 lead changes and 12 ties in the contest.
The Eagles shot 43.5 percent from the field, scoring 18 points off turnovers and 17 on second-chance points. A strong rebounding effort led to a 16-8 offensive rebounding advantage over Campbell.
Going into the half, the Camels trailed NCCU 38-34. Cleveland and Po’Boigh King already tallied 13 and 11 points, respectively. King was also leading on the boards with five rebounds.
More Eagles would soar in the second half as three more players joined King and Cleveland in double figures. Ja’Darius Harris finished with 13 points and three assists, while Devin Gordon and Keishon Porter each had 10 points.
King finished with 15 points before drawing his fifth foul and was one rebound away from a double-double. Perry Smith Jr and Porter also grabbed eight and five boards, respectively.
North Carolina Central’s defense held its opponent to only four points in overtime. Anthony Dell’Orso was Campbell’s leading scored with 25 points on 8-of-10 shooting.
The Eagles are now 3-3 on the season and turn their focus to Tuesday’s game at 4 p.m. against The Citadel. This will be the last game for NCCU at the Campbell Creek Classic.
Next Game: vs. The Citadel 11/21/2023 | 4:00 PM
Team Statistics
| Game Stats | NCCU | Campb |
|---|---|---|
| FG% | .435 | .491 |
| 3FG% | .310 | .333 |
| FT% | .600 | .621 |
| RB | 40 | 35 |
| TO | 15 | 15 |
| STL | 10 | 7 |
