Davis Bowne scored 10 points with eight rebounds and three assists in Wednesday's win Game statistics

Mountaineers Post a 71-64 Victory Over Campbell
by Appalachian Sports Information

November 21, 2007 - BUIES CREEK, N.C. — Appalachian State University men’s basketball saw a 17-point halftime lead whittled down into a competitive game in the second half, but succeeded in holding Campbell University at bay for a 71-64 win at Carter Gymnasium Wednesday afternoon. ASU was paced by Ryann Abraham’s 14 points while Davis Bowne and Doug McLaughlin-Williams nearly posted double-doubles with 10 points each and eight and nine rebounds, respectively.

Jonathan Rodriguez led Campbell (1-3) with 21 points, 15 of them in the second half as the Camels outscored ASU 42-32 in the second stanza. Campbell also had 12 boards in the loss. ASU (3-2) continued its hot shooting, converting at a 50-percent clip, while the defense stymied the Camels’, limiting them to success on just 33 percent of their shots. However, the Apps committed 21 turnovers, 15 in the second half, with CU scoring 22 points as a result, making the tally as close as it was.

The teams traded baskets over the first 10 minutes of the opening half until ASU cracked open a 10-point, 25-15 lead with just under six minutes left courtesy of a 12-1 run that was keyed by back-to-back three pointers from Bermudez and Brand. The Camels would score seven of next nine points to cut into the margin, but the Mountaineers responded by keeping CU off the board for the final 4:09 of the half. During that span, ASU ran off 12 unanswered points that featured two three-pointers from Kellen Brand and back-to-back steals from Abraham to take a 17-point, 39-22, lead into the locker room.

Campbell opened the second half with a 10-2 run to pare down the lead, however ASU would keep its lead in double digits until back-to-back turnovers allowed CU to pull within nine at 51-42 with 8:22 left. Abraham, who committed one of the miscues, redeemed himself and quieted the energized crowd with a three-pointer on ASU’s next possession.

The Apps got the lead back out to 14 in the next few minutes, but the pesky Camels stayed within striking distance and pulled within seven, 62-55, on a pair of Rodriguez free throws with 1:43 left. After an ASU possession, McLaughlin-Williams grabbed a critical defensive rebound to keep it a three-possession game with under a minute left. ASU made eight of its final 12 free throws after Campbell started fouling to stop the clock. CU got a three pointer from Kyle Vejraska as time expired for the final 71-64 tally.

The Mountaineers will return to action on Monday evening for the home and Southern Conference opener against No. 25 Davidson. The game will be televised on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) and is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff at the Holmes Center.