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Campbell University

Men's Basketball

Rodriguez hits milestone, but Camels fall at Belmont 66-55

BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Belmont used a late 10-0 run and defeated Campbell 66-55 Thursday night in Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball action at the Curb Event Center.

The Camels trailed 56-53 when Jonathan Rodriguez scored off Junard Hartley's feed with 1:46 to go, but the Camels committed four turnovers and missed a jumper in their next five possessions. Belmont (10-9, 5-4) made 7-of-8 free throws in the final minute and ended a 3-game losing streak.

Campbell (11-6, 6-2) saw its three-game win streak come to an end. After hitting 50 percent of their shots in the opening period, Campbell made just 7-of-26 (.269) in the last stanza and made only 11-of-20 (.550) from the line after the break.

Rodriguez' bucket gave him 1948 for his career to set a new Campbell all-time scoring record. The senior from Bayamon, Puerto Rico broke the old mark of 1947 set by Sam Staggers from 1973-77. Miles Taylor added 14 points for the Camels, who were out-rebounded 43-28 and surrendered 18 second-chance points.

Keaton Belcher led Belmont with 17 points, including 5-of-6 threes. Mick Hedgepeth added 12 points, including 10-of-14 from the line, and 12 rebounds, while Ian Clark had 10 points.

Campbell forced 22 Belmont turnovers and scored 19 points off those miscues, but the Bruins made 15-of-18 from the line in the second half (.833) to offset 38 percent shooting for the game.

Belmont opened the second half on a 17-6 run and took its largest lead (47-36) when Jordan Campbell hit a 3 from right of the key with 14:05 to play. However, the Camels responded with a 9-0 run over the next 6:48 and cut the gap to 47-45 on Rodriguez' free throw with 8:02 remaining.

The Camels finished the night shooting 37.5 percent from the field (18-48), including just 1-of-9 from 3-point territory (.111) and 60 percent (18-30) from the stripe. Belmont extended its record against the Camels in Nashville to 11-0.

The lead changed 17 times and the score was tied on six occasions in the opening period as the Camels and Bruins played to a 30-all deadlock at the break. Neither team led by more than five (Campbell at 11-6 with 14:56 to go).

Taylor led the Camels with 11 first-half points on 4-of-4 shooting, plus 3-of-4 from the line. The Camels shot 50 percent from the field in the opening half and made 7-of-10 from the stripe.

Belcher hit a trio of threes in as many attempts and led Belmont with 11 first-half points. However, the rest of the Bruins went 1-of-9 from beyond the arc, but Belmont stayed close thanks to a 12-0 advantage in second-chance points.

Ranked fifth in the nation in steals (11.06 per game), the Camels swiped 14 on Thursday, including four by Junard Hartley.

The Camels continue their two-game trip to Music City Saturday in a 3:15 p.m. (CST) tip-off at pre-season league co-favorite Lipscomb.

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Players Mentioned

Junard Hartley

#12 Junard Hartley

G
6' 3"
Junior
Jonathan Rodriguez

#3 Jonathan Rodriguez

F
6' 5"
Senior
Miles Taylor

#32 Miles Taylor

G/F
6' 4"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Junard Hartley

#12 Junard Hartley

6' 3"
Junior
G
Jonathan Rodriguez

#3 Jonathan Rodriguez

6' 5"
Senior
F
Miles Taylor

#32 Miles Taylor

6' 4"
Senior
G/F