BOONE, N.C. – Donovan Gregory scored a season-high 21 points, but App State (3-1) dropped a tight 63-58 decision to Campbell (2-1) for its first loss of the young season.
After trailing 29-24 at the half, the Mountaineers made a pair of second-half runs, including a 13-3 run capped by a Gregory layup that gave App State a 49-47 lead with 7:06 left in the game.
The Camels would not let the App State lead grow any larger, though. After trading baskets by Campbell's Devon Dunn (who led the Camels with 18 points), App State's CJ Huntley and Campbell's Jesus Carralero, the Camels maintained a two-score lead for most of the final four minutes of action.
App State cut the deficit to four twice in the final minute – on a Terence Harcum 3-pointer and a Gregory free throw – but it was not enough to avoid the loss after starting 3-0 for the first time since 1997-98.
Gregory finished two points shy of his career high, while adding seven rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. He drained multiple 3-pointers for the second time in his collegiate career, going 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.
Huntley added 12 points and seven boards, while Harcum had eight points and Tyree Boykin added seven.
Down by as many as nine points on three occasions in the opening half, the Mountaineers worked the game to a tie at 21-21 before trailing by five at the break.
App State out-rebounded Campbell by a 38-35 margin and had just six turnovers to Campbell's nine. But the difference in the game came down to shooting. The Camels shot 46 percent from the field, while the Mountaineers shot 35.6 percent from the field and made 9-of-18 free throws.
Justin Abson earned a block for the fourth consecutive game, totaling 11 on the season.
The weekend tournament continues Saturday with App State hosting Kennesaw State at 7 p.m. The Owls defeated Southeastern Louisiana 72-68 in the opening game of the weekend Friday afternoon.
