Drew Pember scored 29 points and top-seeded UNC Asheville rallied to defeat Campbell 77-73 in Sunday’s Big South tournament final in Charlotte, N.C.
The Bulldogs (27-7) overcame a 14-point deficit to win their ninth straight game and earn a trip to their fifth NCAA Tournament, their first since 2016.
Tajion Jones added 24 points for UNCA, who trailed 38-35 at halftime and were down 66-52 with 7:37 left against the seventh-seeded Fighting Camels (16-18). Jones’ 3-pointer with 59 seconds put the Bulldogs ahead 75-73 — their first lead since it was 13-11.
Jay Pal led Campbell with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Ricky Clemons added 17 points and Anthony Dell’Orso had 12 for the Camels, who were outscored 18-7 in the final five minutes.
Drake 77, Bradley 51
Tucker DeVries scored 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting and grabbed six rebounds as the second-seeded Bulldogs dominated the top-seeded Braves to win the Missouri Valley Conference tournament final in St. Louis, Mo.
Drake (27-7) led by 20 points at halftime and shot 28-for-50 (56 percent) to clinch its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance and its second in three years. The Bulldogs also received 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds from Darnell Brodie, 12 points from Garrett Sturtz and nine points and six assists from Roman Penn.
Ja’Shon Henry was the only player to score in double figures for Bradley (25-9), posting 10 points off the bench.
–Field Level Media
