BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Belmont wrapped a 35-8 run around half-time and
went on to defeat Campbell 75-50 Saturday in Atlantic Sun
Conference men's basketball action at Gore Arena.
The Bruins (12-10, 7-5) dealt the Camels their worst loss of the
year and held Campbell's all-time leading scorer Jonathan Rodriguez
scoreless for the first time in his 111-game career.
Ian Clark led Belmont with 14 points, including 4-of-7 threes,
while Keaton Belcher added 13 (3-of-5 threes) and Kerron Johnson
12. Belmont shot 57 percent from the floor in the opening half,
47.6 percent for the game, made 11-of-25 from 3-point range (.444)
and made 24-of-27 (.889) from the foul line.
Amir Celestin came off the bench to lead Campbell (12-8, 7-4) with
12 points. Kyle Vejraska added 9 and Preston Dodson 8 for the
Camels, who lost consecutive Atlantic Sun games for the first time
this year.
Belmont hit 7-of-14 threes in the opening period and closed the
half on a 14-2 run to take a 40-23 advantage at intermission.
Campbell went the final 3:30 without a field goal, while the Bruins
hit a trio of threes, plus Johnson's old-fashioned 3-point play in
the last 3:09.
Belmont finished with a 25-10 advantage in points off turnovers.
Campbell committed 17 miscues, while Belmont had 21 turnovers, but
held a 37-29 advantage on the glass.
Campbell finished the game shooting just 31 percent from the floor
(16-51), 0-of-11 from 3-point range, and 18-of-29 (.621) from the
free throw line.
"I don't think we competed at a level we needed to beat a very good
basketball game today," said Campbell head coach Robbie Laing.
"When Belmont hit a few shots, they started feeling better about
themselves and our confidence dropped."
Campbell continues its two-game home stand on Monday with an 8:00
p.m. tip-off vs. Lipscomb.