BUIES
CREEK, N.C. - Campbell wrapped a 32-7 run around half-time and went
on to an 85-55 Atlantic Sun win over Stetson Saturday at Gore
Arena.
The
Camels (10-9, 4-6) scored 26 points off 15 Stetson turnovers to end
a 3-game losing streak and hand Stetson (6-14, 4-5) its
3rd-consecutive loss.
Junard Hartley led Campbell with a career-high 16 points, including
8-of-8 from the line, plus 6 assists. Eric Griffin added 13 points
and 10 rebounds for his 3rd double-double of the year, and Preston
Dodson chipped in 10 points. Over the past three games, Griffin
has made 23-of-34 shots (.676).
Amir
Celestin (5 assists), Anthony Horton and Marvelle Harris added 8
points each for the Camels, who shot 52.8 percent (28-53) from the
floor and made 25-of-31 free throws (.806). Campbell held a 37-22
edge on the glass, resulting in a 14-4 advantage in second-chance
points.
Steve
Forbes, Corey Walden and Joel Naburgs scored 9 points each to lead
Stetson, which shot 41 percent from the field, 13-of-23 (.565) from
the stripe.
The
Camels claimed their most decisive A-Sun result since an 87-44
victory at Kennesaw State on Jan. 31, 2009.
"Everybody
just did their job, said Campbell head coach Robbie Laing. "It was
nice to see so many guys locked in and focused - whether it was
making a free throw or making a pass. To have 20 assists on 28
buckets is just phenomenal."
In
addition to matching his career-best scoring performance, Hartley
moved into 5th place on the Atlantic Sun career assists charts.
The senior from Atlanta now has 539 assists, just two shy of the
fourth-place spot held by Elston Harris of Mercer, who dealt 541
from 1982-86.
"Junard
was an all-conference point guard today," said Laing. "He focused
on making himself better and got everyone else involved. That's
among the best games for leading the team any guard has had in the
eight years I've been here."
Stetson
made 11 of its first 18 shots (.611) and cut the gap to 30-26 on
Walden's jumper with 4:06 remaining in the opening period.
However,
the Camels out-scored the Hatters 11-0 down the stretch - capped by
Hartley's runner in the lane as time ran out - and led 41-26 at the
break.
Griffin
had 10 points and 8 rebounds in the opening half, while Hartley
added 10, plus 4 assists. Horton and Martell Jackson came off the
CU bench to chip in 7 apiece in the first period.
Campbell
shot 50 percent from the field in the opening half (16-32), held a
10-0 edge in second-chance points and converted 8 Stetson miscues
into a 13-5 edge in points off turnovers.
Stetson
made 11-of-23 shots (.478) in the opening half, but only 2-of-7
from the free throw line. Campbell hit 7-of-8 from the stripe and
held a 21-10 edge on the glass at intermission.
The
Camels outscored the visitors 10-4 before the first media timeout
of the second period and the lead never dipped below 20
thereafter. Campbell led by as many as 31 down the stretch.
After suffering its third home loss by just two points to an A-Sun
opponent on Thursday against Florida Gulf Coast, the Camels
answered Saturday with their fourth-straight victory over the
Hatters, including 3-straight at Gore Arena.
Campbell steps out of league action Tuesday with a 7:00 p.m.
tip-off at Longwood. The Camels then start a 4-game road stretch
against A-Sun teams next Saturday night at North Florida.