WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Campbell ended 2025 with a comeback 68-65 win at Monmouth for the first CAA win of the season. The Camels trailed by seven with less than eight minutes to go before battling back late for the road win.
 
Campbell improves to 7-8, 1-1 in the CAA while Monmouth drops to 6-9, 0-1.
 
Still shorthanded, only six Camels took the floor tonight, with five of those playing 35 minutes or more. DJ Smith led the Camels with 24 points thanks to knocking down four triples and being a steady 6-7 at the foul line. Dovydas Butka logged his fifth double-double and second in a row with a 14 points and 14 boards.
 
A tight first half featuring 10 lead changes saw Monmouth carry a 35-30 lead into the break. Butka led the Camels with 10 points and 8 rebounds in the opening 20 minutes. Campbell led by three but hit just one of its last seven FGs before the half to allow the Hawks to build a lead.
 
The Camels stayed in striking distance until seven minutes to play when they made their move with a 12-3 run to vault into the lead on a Muneer Newton putback with 1:59 left and never trailed again. Monmouth tied it once, but the Camels put the game on ice at the stripe going 6-8 at the foul line in the final minute.
 
Campbell tightened the screws defensively in the second half and held the Hawks to just eight second-half field goals, forced five turnovers and 36% shooting.
 
Muneer Newton hauled in a season-best 12 rebounds to help Campbell outrebound the Hawks 40-33 and put back 17 second-chance points.
 
Campbell returns for the CAA home opener Saturday Jan. 3 at noon. That game will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network. It is also Harnett County Day, with all Harnett County residents receiving free admission.
 
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