WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a high-octane Colonial Athletic Association tournament quarterfinal defined by offensive efficiency and a relentless parade to the free-throw line, the Campbell Fightin’ Camels outlasted the Stony Brook Seawolves 96-89 on Saturday at CareFirst Arena.

The victory, which avenged a regular-season loss to Stony Brook just over five weeks prior, advanced Campbell to a Sunday semifinal against UNC Wilmington. It also served as a microcosm of the Fightin’ Camels’ season, showcasing explosive scoring potential alongside periods of precarious ball security.

The game’s pivotal sequence arrived not with a single shot, but with a sustained defensive stance and offensive composure from Campbell in the final four minutes. Leading 85-79 after a Rob Brown dunk for Stony Brook, Campbell saw its offense stagnate. Yet, the Seawolves could not capitalize on several opportunities to narrow the gap significantly. Missed jumpers from Andrej Shoshkikj and Erik Pratt, coupled with a critical offensive rebound and putback attempt that was blocked, allowed Campbell to maintain its cushion.

Campbell then sealed the game at the charity stripe, a fitting conclusion for an contest where the teams combined to attempt 79 free throws. The Fightin’ Camels, who entered the bonus early in both halves, made 37 of 56 free throws. While the percentage was subpar, the volume proved decisive, accounting for over a third of their total points. In the final 1:54 alone, Campbell went 8 for 10 from the line to keep Stony Brook at bay.

The most important part of the game was Campbell’s ability to withstand Stony Brook’s prolific scoring duo and control the game’s tempo through paint dominance and transition play. Despite a magnificent 35-point performance from Stony Brook’s Andrej Shoshkikj and 23 points from Erik Pratt, Campbell consistently answered with interior scoring and timely three-pointers.

Campbell’s offense operated with remarkable efficiency, scoring 96 points on just 75 possessions for an offensive rating of 128.7. They shot a blistering 62.8 percent from the floor (27 of 43) and 50 percent from three-point range (5 of 10). Their attack was balanced, with Jeremiah Johnson scoring 20 points, DJ Smith adding 18, and Muneer Newton and Dovydas Butka each contributing 15. Butka, the 6-foot-9 forward from Lithuania, was particularly instrumental, narrowly missing a triple-double with 9 assists and several key rebounds.

The Fightin’ Camels established their game plan early, scoring 42 points in the paint and adding 18 fast-break points. They built an eight-point halftime lead, 48-40, by shooting 70 percent from the field in the opening period. Stony Brook, which shot 48.4 percent overall and 39.1 percent from deep, could never quite close the gap in the second half despite scoring 49 points. Every Seawolves run was met with a Campbell response, often through a driving basket by Smith or Johnson, or a dish from Butka.

Stony Brook, which finished its season at 17-15, was led by Shoshkikj’s efficient 35 points on 11-of-19 shooting, which included four three-pointers. Pratt added 23 points and Rob Brown scored 22. The Seawolves won the turnover battle 13-10 and converted those into 11 points, but were ultimately undone by Campbell’s superior shooting percentage and inability to get consistent stops in the half-court.

Campbell, now 15-17, will look to continue its tournament run Sunday. The victory marked a successful rebound from a three-game losing streak to end the regular season and demonstrated the high-ceiling offense that has characterized its campaign. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Campbell had a 53.2 percent probability to win pregame, and they covered the spread as a 3-point favorite. The total score of 185 points sailed over the over/under line of 147.5, highlighting the offensive nature of the contest.