North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Campbell
No. 17 N.C. State Cruises Past Campbell, 99-44
11/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2004
By AARON BEARD
AP Sports Writer
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina State had no trouble staying unbeaten Friday night.
Cameron Bennerman scored 20 points to lead the No. 17 Wolfpack past Campbell 99-44, marking their fourth straight lopsided victory to start the season.
Julius Hodge added 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Wolfpack, who shot 70 percent in the second half and committed just six turnovers for the game.
Diago Aguiar scored 16 points for the Fighting Camels (1-2), who have lost 24 of 25 games against Atlantic Coast Conference teams.
The Fighting Camels' only win against an ACC foe came 11 years ago against the Wolfpack, a 72-69 overtime win in Reynolds Coliseum. But there was no chance of an upset Friday night, with the Wolfpack handing Campbell its worst loss since moving to Division I in 1977.
Campbell's previous worst defeat in Division I was a 96-43 loss at Florida International in February 1998.
The Wolfpack jumped on the Fighting Camels early, hit plenty of 3-pointers and harassed Campbell ballhandlers with aggressive defense. The Wolfpack hit 14 of 26 3-pointers and held their instate neighbors to 33 percent shooting.
This game followed a familiar pattern for the Wolfpack, who cruised through the BCA Invitational last week. The Wolfpack opened leads of 11-0, 13-2 and 13-0 in their first three games and came in shooting 57 percent on the season.
N.C. State got off to another fast start against the Fighting Camels, taking a 20-4 lead that grew to a 20-point margin midway through the half. The Wolfpack shot 5-of-6 from behind the arc in those opening 10 minutes.
The last of that stretch was a wide-open 3 from Ilian Evtimov just in front of the Campbell bench, prompting coach Robbie Laing to slump in his chair and throw his arms back in frustration.
N.C. State led 41-22 at halftime and sucked any remaining drama out of the game by scoring the first 13 points after the break - ending with a stickback inside from Cedric Simmons - for a 32-point lead.
By that time, Campbell had just one assist and 15 turnovers.
Anthony Atkinson, who came in leading Campbell with 15 points per game, finished with just five and struggled against Tony Bethel and the Wolfpack defense. One of his two baskets was a goaltended layup midway through the second half.
