BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Jonathan Rodriguez scored 19 points and grabbed
10 rebounds and Campbell moved into first place in the Atlantic Sun
Conference standings Thursday night with a 61-45 victory over
Florida Gulf Coast at the Pope Center/Gore Arena.
Rodriguez set the school's career rebounding record (961 in 106
games) and recorded his ninth double-double of the year for the
Camels (10-5, 5-1), who won their second-straight game and fourth
in the last five contests.
Lorne Merthie added 11 points, while Junard Hartley added eight,
plus five assists, three steals and no turnovers in 31 minutes.
Rodriguez hit 5-of-8 from the floor, 8-of-10 from the line and
dealt four assists and two steals.
Florida Gulf Coast's 45-point showing was the lowest scored by a CU
opponent in Coach Robbie Laing's seven seasons at Campbell and the
fewest surrendered by a Camel squad since Division II Wingate
scored just 41 on Dec. 30, 1997.
Campbell stands 9-1 this year when holding foes to less than 70
points in a game.
Reed Baker and Hunter Miller led FGCU (5-11, 2-5) with 8 points
each. Gulf Coast shot just 27 percent from the floor and committed
23 turnovers, which the Camels converted into 20 points. FGCU held
a 36-33 edge on the boards, led by Derrick O'Neil's game-high 12
rebounds.
The Camels entered the contest ranked eighth in the country in
steals (10.7) and grabbed a season-best 16, led by Merthie's five.
CU also rated ninth nationally in turnover margin (plus-4.6) and
had five fewer miscues on Thursday than the Eagles.
CU made just 39 percent of their shots, but made more free throws
(25-35) than Florida Gulf Coast attempted (14-20).
CU broke open a close game with a 13-2 run midway through the first
half; capped by Hartley's 3-point basket from the left wing that
put the Camels in front 28-11 with 6:13 remaining. The Camels led
by as many as 20 with 14:32 to play and the Eagles were unable to
draw closer than 14 the rest of the way.
Campbell improved to 7-1 at home this year, the lone loss coming
Nov. 23 against ACC member Virginia Tech (71-60), by winning their
fifth-straight at Gore Arena.
Rodriguez broke the school's Division I era (since 1977) rebounding
mark formerly held by Joe Spinks, who grabbed 954 boards in his
career from 1990-94. With 1916 career points, "J-Rod" is only 31
points shy of Campbell's all-time leading scorer Sam Staggers, who
tallied 1947 from 1973-77.
The Camels conclude their two-game home stand on Saturday when they
host Stetson in a double-header. The women's game tips off at 1:00
p.m., followed by the men's contest at 3:15. Saturday is "Take a
Kid to the Game" day at Campbell University. With each adult paid
admission, up to four "kids" (ages 14 and under) will be admitted
free.
