BUIES CREEK, N.C. – In the midst of a jam-packed Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball race, Campbell returns to Carter Gym on Thursday to host Kennesaw State in a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. The game will air on WCLN 107.3 FM and on-line at www.GoCamels.com.

The Camels (9-12, 4-5) are coming off a 78-74 overtime win Saturday at North Florida. The Camels rallied from a 7-point half-time deficit to force overtime; then held off the Ospreys for their third road victory in the last four outings away from Carter Gym.

Jonathan Rodriguez led the Camels with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Jake Wohlfeil scored 14 of his 17 points after half-time. Junard Hartley tallied CU's final 7 points in regulation en route to a career-high 12-point effort. Preston Dodson added 10, plus a career-best seven boards.

Campbell is one of six teams with 4-5 league records through the first half of the A-Sun schedule. Jacksonville (8-1) tops the leader board, followed by Belmont (7-2), East Tennessee State (7-2), Stetson (5-4) and the 4-5 log jam. In addition to Campbell, Gardner-Webb, Lipscomb, Mercer, Florida Gulf Coast and USC Upstate enter this week's action one game below .500 in conference play. Kennesaw State (3-6) is one game off the six-team pace, while North Florida (0-9) is at the bottom of the A-Sun standings.

Kennesaw State (6-17, 3-6) dropped a pair of six-point decisions on the road last week at USC Upstate (71-65) and East Tennessee State (72-66). Senior Ronell Wooten scored 28 points at ETSU to raise his average against league foes to 19.9 points per game.

Campbell is 6-5 at home in Carter Gym this year, but has lost 2-straight at the facility. Kennesaw State is 0-11 on the road (0-13 including neutral site games) this season. Home teams stand 29-25 in A-Sun play this year.

The two previous games between Campbell and Kennesaw State played at Carter Gym have been decided by a total of seven points. In 2006, KSU notched an 81-77 triumph, while the Camels claimed an 88-85 double-overtime victory last year.

Sophomore forward Jonathan Rodriguez leads the A-Sun and ranks 21st nationally in scoring (20.9). Rodriguez is just 25 points shy of becoming the 24th Camel to score 1,000 points during the school's senior college era (since 1961).

If Rodriguez does tally 25 points Thursday night, he would reach the 1,000 point barrier faster (53 games) than any player in Campbell senior college (since 1961) history. Cordell Wise scored his 1000th point in his 54th career game (Nov. 22, 1969 vs. High Point).

At any rate, Rodriguez will become the first Camel sophomore ever to reach 1000 points in his career. Wise played three years at Campbell (1967-70) after transferring from Temple. He earned NAIA All-America honors in 1970 and finished his career with 1584 points in 84 games (18.9 per outing). Sam Staggers (1947 points in 119 games from 1973-77) is CU's all-time leading scorer at the senior college level.

Eleven of Campbell's last 14 games have been a one or two possession margin (6 points or less) with under 30 seconds to play in the second half.

Campbell has won two of the last three games in the series vs. KSU, including an 88-85 decision in double overtime on Jan. 6, 2007 at Buies Creek. All four games between the schools have been decided by 10, or fewer, points.

The Owls and North Florida play a full A-Sun schedule, but will not be eligible to participate in the league tournament (and receive an automatic NCAA bid) until the 2009-10 campaign while both programs complete the transition to full Division I status. A-Sun members USC Upstate and Florida Gulf Coast are also in the transition phase of their Division I membership.

Kennesaw State has three players – Ronell Wooten (4th, 1.83), Shuan Stegall (6th, 1.68) and J.D. Pollock (7th, 1.65) – ranked among the A-Sun leaders in steals. As a team, KSU leads the league in steals (9.35) and is forcing 20.1 turnovers, the most among league members.

Following Thursday's contest, the Camels travel to Macon, Ga., for a 5:00 p.m. tap on Saturday against Mercer.