AUBURN, ALA. - Campbell closed the game on a 14-5 run and defeated host Auburn 61-54 Saturday on the second day of the Global Sports Hoops Showcase.

Amir Celestin came off the bench to score a season-high 13 points, nine in the second half, and the Camels (2-2) held Auburn (0-3) scoreless for a 6:20 span down the stretch. Eric Griffin added 10 points, while Junard Hartley and Lorne Merthie chipped in eight apiece.

Hartley finished with a season-high six assists, against only one turnover. Griffin had a team-high 6 rebounds and 4 blocked shots and Merthie made four steals.

Campbell knocked off a Southeastern Conference team for the first time since a 73-72 overtime triumph Jan. 12, 1994 at South Carolina and improved to 2-12 all-time against SEC schools.

Saturday's triumph marked the first win over a "BCS" conference school in eight seasons under the direction of head coach Robbie Laing, who served as an assistant coach at Auburn from 1994-96.

"I thought our slow start was a bit like a trip to the dentist," said Laing, a native of Eufaula, Ala. "We were really lethargic at the outset, and I was really concerned about where we might be headed. We went through some adversity, but we kept our composure, made plays when it counted, and that gave us a chance to win."

Saturday's result was the third win over a power conference school for an Atlantic Sun Conference school in the first two weeks of the college basketball season. Stetson defeated Wake Forest 89-79 and Kennesaw State topped Georgia Tech 80-63 during the last nine days.

"Any time you beat a BCS program, it's validation that you're a legitimate Division I player," said Laing. "I really feel like that coupled with playing in an opponent's true home environment, and keeping our composure down the stretch will really help our confidence as we move through the season."

The Camels claimed a 25-7 edge in points off turnovers by forcing 24 Auburn miscues and limiting the Tigers to just 35.8 percent shooting. Auburn made just 32 percent of its shots inside the 3-point arc (11-34).

Campbell made seven more free throws (17-25) than Auburn attempted (8-10) and committed just six turnovers in the second half, 14 for the game.

"Our upper class guards were really special tonight," said Laing. "Amir played under the defeats, Junard and Lorne remained composed and all three made big plays down the stretch."

Andre Malone was the lone Tiger in double figures with 17 points, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range. Auburn lost its second-straight game to an A-Sun member. Mercer defeated the Tigers 78-74 on Nov. 19, 2008.

Auburn stretched a four-point half-time advantage to eight (42-34) when Josh Langford completed a 3-point play with 14:41 remaining. However, the Camels answered with a 12-2 burst and reclaimed the lead (46-44) on Celestin's 3-point play.

Malone's fourth three of the game put Auburn back in front 49-47 with 6:28 to play, but the Tigers went 0-for-7 from the field, missed a front end of a one-and-one, and had three turnovers in the next 6:20.

Griffin's short bank shot knotted the score at 49 with 3:41 left. After Kenny Gabriel missed a 3, Celestin was fouled on a drive to the basket and sank both free throws with 2:56 remaining to put the Camels in front for good at 51-49. Celestin then stole the ball from Allen Payne - Auburn's 22nd turnover - and Griffin's turnaround jumper in the lane put CU up 53-49 with 2:25 to go.

Rob Chubb missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw with 2:11 remaining; then Junard Hartley's 17-footer pushed the gap to 55-49 with 1:07 left. Hartley made a pair from the line to cap a 10-0 stretch and give the Camels a 57-49 edge with 18.9 seconds to go.

Campbell led 18-10 with 8:07 left in the opening half, but went more than four minutes without a field goal. Auburn responded with a 13-5 run capped by Malone's three from the left wing to tie the score at 23 with 3:37 to go. After Hartley made the first of two free throws, Malone connected from the right corner and the Tigers led (26-24) for the first time since 3-2.

Rob Chubb's follow shot with 2 seconds left gave the Tigers a 30-26 lead at the break. Auburn converted 11 first-half offensive rebounds into an 11-3 edge in second-chance points. The Tigers also hit 5-9 threes, while Campbell missed all four of its long-range shots before intermission.

Campbell will face Samford (2-2) Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (CST) with a chance to win the Global Sports Hoops Showcase title outright. The Camels defeated Middle Tennessee 97-90 on Friday.

Samford defeated Auburn 79-68 Friday night; then fell 68-55 to Middle Tennessee Saturday afternoon.