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Campbell University

Campbell Defeats Jacksonville 84-74 In Atlantic Sun Conference Men's Basketball


BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Jonathan Rodriguez scored 26 points - 19 in the second half - and Campbell defeated Jacksonville 84-74 Saturday in Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball action at Carter Gym.



Eric Smith added 21 points, 17 in the first half, while Reggie Bishop had 13 and Ledell Eackles 11 for the Fighting Camels (10-10, 5-5), who won their second-straight game and third in the last four outings.



Lehmon Colbert, Jesse Kimbrough and Tyrone Curnell led Jacksonville (10-11, 6-5) with 14 points apiece. Evan Jefferson added 12 off the bench for the Dolphins, who saw their three-game winning streak end.



Playing without 6-foot-9 starting forward Russ Gibson, who was out with a groin injury, the Camels claimed a 36-33 edge on the boards despite starting no one taller than 6-foot-5. CU matched the Dolphins for second chance points (15-14) and held a 34-28 scoring edge in the paint. Rodriguez grabbed 11 rebounds, while Bishop pulled down a career-high 10. Eackles dealt eight assists and made three steals for the Camels, who matched their season low with 11 turnovers.



On Jan. 4 at Jacksonville, the Dolphins held a 47-20 advantage on the glass and scored 32 points off 21 Campbell turnovers in a 90-71 win.



Campbell is at the .500 level after 20 games in a season for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign, which was the last time the Camels finished with a winning overall record (17-11). The Fighting Camels have also matched their win total from a year ago (10-18) heading into Tuesday's 7:00 p.m. league tip-off at Gardner-Webb.



In a game that was tied 10 times and the lead changed on nine occasions, Campbell answered a second-half Dolphin run with one of its own. Rodriguez' bucket put the Camels in front 42-38 with 16:33 to go before JU went on a 12-0 run, capped by Kimbrough's three from the left wing.



Trailing 50-42 with 14:29 left, Campbell then went on an 11-1 burst as Rodriguez and Smith each chipped in four points during the span. Rodriguez' free throws put CU ahead 53-51 with 10:34 remaining.



Campbell went in front for good during a 10-1 spurt. Colin Hunt notched the first of his seven second-half points underneath with 6:24 remaining to tie the score at 67-all. After a Rodriguez field goal, Hunt's three-pointer from the key - his first of the season - put CU ahead 72-67 with 5:09 to go. Rodriguez' three-point play pushed the margin to 75-68 with 4:37 left.



After Curnell's dunk cut the gap to 75-70 with 4:17 to go, neither team scored until Eackles drove down the left side of the lane and was fouled while spinning a reverse lay-up high off the backboard and in. He converted the free throw for a 78-70 edge with 2:21 left.



Despite shooting 51.6 percent from the floor in the second half (16-of-31), Jacksonville made just two field goals (in seven tries) and committed four turnovers during the final 6:07 of the game.



The Fighting Camels made more free throws (21-of-26) than the visitors attempted (8-of-16), while shooting 46.6 percent from the floor (27-58). Rodriguez was 9-of-15 from the field, and 7-of-8 from the line in addition to blocking a season-high three shots. Smith was perfect in five free throw attempts and Eackles hit 6-of-7 from the stripe. Campbell shot 13-of-15 (.808) from the foul line in the second half.



Jacksonville led by as many as six in the first half before the Camels rallied to take a 36-32 edge at the break. Smith hit 5-of-9 from the floor, including a pair of threes, and 5-of-5 from the stripe in the opening period.



A senior from Henderson, Ky., Gibson ranks third in the league in field goal percentage (.604) while averaging 8.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

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Players Mentioned

Ledell Eackles

#12 Ledell Eackles

G
5' 9"
Senior
Russ Gibson

#20 Russ Gibson

F
6' 9"
Senior
Colin Hunt

#33 Colin Hunt

F
6' 8"
Senior
Jonathan Rodriguez

#3 Jonathan Rodriguez

F
6' 5"
Freshman
Eric Smith

#11 Eric Smith

G
6' 1"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Ledell Eackles

#12 Ledell Eackles

5' 9"
Senior
G
Russ Gibson

#20 Russ Gibson

6' 9"
Senior
F
Colin Hunt

#33 Colin Hunt

6' 8"
Senior
F
Jonathan Rodriguez

#3 Jonathan Rodriguez

6' 5"
Freshman
F
Eric Smith

#11 Eric Smith

6' 1"
Senior
G