Monday, November 13, 2006

MACON, Ga. – Making his first start in nearly two years, Campbell’s Russ Gibson provided a huge lift for the Fighting Camels in their season opening victory and claimed the first Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week honor of the 2006-07 campaign.

Gibson bettered his career-high by nine points with a team-high 22 on 10-of-11 shooting in Campbell's 106-66 win over UNC Pembroke on Saturday. The senior forward scored eight points in CU's decisive 21-0 run midway through the first half. Gibson doubled his point total (11) of the entire 2005-06 season (in 17 games) while logging just 20 minutes in the opener. Campbell posted its first 100-plus point game since Jan. 3, 1994 by shooting 63.3 percent (38-60) from the field, making 9-of-23 threes and hitting 21-of-29 free throws. The Henderson, Ky., native is majoring in Criminal Justice.

The Atlantic Sun Conference hands out Player of the Week awards weekly during the 2006-07 men’s basketball campaign.

The 12-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, UNF and Stetson with Florida Gulf Coast and USC Upstate beginning competition in 2007-08.

OTHER TOP PERFORMERS
• Jesse Kimbrough, Jacksonville (Sr. – G – Mexia, Texas – Sociology Major)
Scored 20 points with career-high seven steals after missing final 22 games last season

• Hrvoje Pervan, Mercer (Sr. – F – Rijeka, Croatia – Business Major)
Provided 10 points off bench at No. 9 Wisconsin

• Ronell Wooten, Kennesaw State (Jr. – G – Statesboro, Ga. – Sport Management Major)
Drained four 3FG’s on way to team-high 17 points in opener

• Dante Williams, ETSU (So. – G – Romulus, Mich. – Business Major)
Netted career-high 14 points as catalyst for ETSU opening victory

• Brian Fisk, Lipscomb (Sr. – G – Newbern, Tenn. – Psychology Major)
Scored game-high 19 points with three 3FG’s in season opener