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Campbell University

Men's Basketball

North Florida edges Camels 57-55

BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Campbell suffered a second-straight heartbreaking loss Wednesday night when North Florida claimed a 57-55 Atlantic Sun victory at Gore Arena.

The Camels (7-6, 1-3) committed a season-high 24 turnovers and dropped their third-straight game, two nights after suffering a 67-65 setback against Jacksonville on a last second shot.

Parker Burns came off the bench to lead the Ospreys (5-9, 2-1) with 15 points, but missed two foul shots with 4.9 seconds to play to give the Camels a final chance. Amir Celestin's floater from about 10 feet at the final horn bounced off the rim.

"You can't throw it to the other team and score points," said Campbell head coach Robbie Laing. "If you're wearing orange and you throw it to blue, it isn't going to work out well."

UNF ended a six-game losing streak despite shooting just 40 percent from the field. However, the Ospreys finished with a 20-13 edge in points off turnovers and won in spite of Campbell hitting 52 percent from the floor.

Jerron Granberry added 13 points and Andres Diaz 10 for the Ospreys, who have suffered seven losses against BCS conference schools - five against nationally-ranked programs. Jimmy Williams and David Jeune led UNF with 7 rebounds apiece.

Lorne Merthie led Campbell with 11 points, but was limited to three field goal attempts in 30 minutes. Celestin added 10 points, Griffin 9, Preston Dodson and Anthony Horton 8 each. Marvelle Harris pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds and blocked four shots.

Campbell took a 48-44 lead with 8:58 remaining in the contest on Horton's 3-point play, but missed four of its next five shots and had four turnovers in the next 6:44.

Neither team led by more than six in the first half as the Camels took a 28-24 edge at the break. Campbell shot 52.4 percent from the floor before intermission, but made 11 turnovers, which the Ospreys turned into nine points.

UNF won for only the second time in the last nine games with the Camels. Wednesday's triumph marked the Osprey's first-ever in Buies Creek.

Six of the last 7 games between the league rivals have been decided by five, or fewer, points, and all 7 have been single-digit margins.

The Camels continue their busy home stretch with a 7:00 p.m. tip-off on Friday against Kennesaw State.

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Players Mentioned

Amir Celestin

#2 Amir Celestin

G
6' 1"
Junior
Preston Dodson

#51 Preston Dodson

F
6' 6"
Senior
Anthony Horton

#10 Anthony Horton

F
6' 8"
Freshman
Lorne Merthie

#25 Lorne Merthie

G
6' 2"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Amir Celestin

#2 Amir Celestin

6' 1"
Junior
G
Preston Dodson

#51 Preston Dodson

6' 6"
Senior
F
Anthony Horton

#10 Anthony Horton

6' 8"
Freshman
F
Lorne Merthie

#25 Lorne Merthie

6' 2"
Junior
G