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Campbell University

Men's Basketball

ETSU defeats Campbell 66-59, but Camels clinch A-Sun berth

BUIES CREEK, N.C. - East Tennessee State produced 20 second-chance points off 18 offensive rebounds and the Bucs defeated Campbell 66-59 Thursday night at Gore Arena.

Adam Sollazzo led ETSU (21-10, 16-4) with a career-high 22 points, Isiah Brown added 21, plus 8 rebounds, and Justin Tubbs added 14 for the Bucs, who played without their top two scorers. Sollazzo hit 12-of-13 free throws and dealt 4 assists.

Despite shooting 50 percent from the floor and holding ETSU to just 39 percent shooting, the Camels only had 4 offensive rebounds and didn't convert any second-chance opportunities. ETSU finished with a 38-21 edge on the glass and outscored the Camels in the paint 32-18.

ETSU knocked down 25-of-35 free throws (.714), while the Camels made only 13-of-21 from the line (.619).

Amir Celestin led Campbell (12-17, 6-13) with a season-high 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Junard Hartley added 17, plus 7 assists, Preston Dodson 12 on 5-of-7 from the floor and Rico Ferguson 10 for the Camels, who played their 6th-straight outing without injured 2nd-leading scorer Lorne Merthie.

In spite of the loss, Campbell clinched a spot in next week's Atlantic Sun Conference tournament when North Florida defeated Stetson 80-77. The Camels could finish as high as the 7th seed following their regular season finale Saturday - a 3:15 p.m. tip-off at home against USC Upstate.

ETSU played without its top two scorers - Mike Smith (16.9) and Micah Williams (14.9). Smith injured an ankle in the first half of last Saturday's double-overtime win at Lipscomb. Williams injured his collarbone in practice this week.

After a first half when the score was tied 5 times and the lead changed on 9 occasions, the Bucs never trailed in the second period. ETSU led by 9 (57-48) when Tubbs knocked down a 3 with 4:50 to go. Celestin's jumper and a 3 from Hartley cut the gap to 57-53 with 2:48 remaining, but the Camels never drew closer.

The Bucs converted a height advantage into a 33-30 lead at the break. ETSU outscored the Camels 26-4 in the paint and grabbed 11 offensive boards, resulting in a 12-0 edge in 2nd-chance points before intermission.

Brown had 12 first-half points, while Sollazzo added 10 for ETSU. Hartley led the Camels with 9 points in the opening period, and Celestin had 8.

Griffin blocked 4 shots on the night and Marvelle Harris had 3 for the Camels, who lead the league with better than 5 rejections per outing. Griffin broke the school record for blocks in a season Thursday and now has 57 heading into Saturday's contest.

Hartley also moved into 2nd place on the A-Sun all-time assists list (586) during the first half of Thursday's contest.

ETSU carries the 2nd seed into Wednesday's A-Sun quarterfinal round contest against either Campbell or 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
Marvelle Harris

#15 Marvelle Harris

F
6' 6"
Freshman
Junard Hartley

#12 Junard Hartley

G
6' 3"
Senior
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
Marvelle Harris

#15 Marvelle Harris

6' 6"
Freshman
F
Junard Hartley

#12 Junard Hartley

6' 3"
Senior
G
Lorne Merthie

#25 Lorne Merthie

6' 2"
Junior
G