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.