University of North Florida
-814, 56 ASun
Campbell
-1110, 56 ASun
Campbell Tops UNF, 76-66
1/29/2011 10:11:07 PM | Men's Basketball
Boxscore
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A strong second half propelled the Campbell Camels to a 76-66 win Saturday night over the University of North Florida in Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball action at UNF Arena.
Campbell (11-10, 5-6) used a 17-4 run midway through the second half to gain control of the game and avenge a two-point loss to the Ospreys (8-14, 5-6 A-Sun) early this month in Buies Creek.
Parker Smith led the way for UNF finishing with 21 points including four three-pointers and a perfect 9-9 performance from the free throw line. Jimmy Williams added 14 points and three assists while Andy Diaz chipped in 12 points.
Lorne Merthie, CU's leading scorer and one of the A-Sun's top three-point shooters, was held to just one point and 0-3 from the arc but teammates Eric Griffin and Junard Hartley picked him up scoring 23 and 16 points, respectively. Griffin also pulled down eight rebounds in helping the Camels post a 40-29 advantage in the battle of the boards.
“Give Campbell a great deal of credit for coming out and taking it to us all night,” said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. “I'm not sure why but we just didn't play with a lot of energy or enthusiasm for much of the game. I was proud that we battled back but their guys seemed to always have an answer for our rallies. We struggled on offense tonight and were again hurt by second chance opportunities. We have to find a way to limit those chances for our opponents.”
Campbell grabbed the early lead as UNF struggled on offense. The Ospreys didn't score their first basket until a Williams layup with 15:30 on the clock. The game remained tightly contested with the Camels maintaining a slight edge.
A four-point play by Smith at the 11:50 mark gave North Florida its first lead of the game at 15-14. CU responded with four straight points to regain a lead, but Smith connected on four straight free throws to again put UNF in front.
Campbell used an 11-4 rally to build a 29-23 advantage with 4:00 to play in the opening half. Smith capped a 7-2 run by the Ospreys closing the gap to one, 31-30, with 1:27 left. The Camels finished the half with a flurry scoring the final six points for a 37-30 halftime lead.
CU widened its lead to double figures early in the second half, 43-32, after scoring six of the first eight points out of the break. Six straight points from Diaz helped UNF cut the deficit to just five less than three minutes later.
An eight-point spurt by Campbell gave them a 51-38 advantage with 12:15 left in the game.
The Ospreys switch to a zone defense slowed down the Camels offensive flow and allowed UNF to claw its way back into the contest. Smith opened a 14-4 run for North Florida with a three followed by baskets from Williams, Diaz and back-to-back treys by Jerron Granberry. The surge allowed UNF to trim the margin to three, 55-52, with 7:50 to play.
North Florida would get no closer though as the Camels scored the next nine points to reclaim a double-digit lead they held for the rest of the contest.
Campbell shot 48 percent from the field including a 13-24 (54.2 percent) showing in the decisive second half. UNF finished at 40.8 percent for the game but mustered just 36 percent in the first period. A total of 50 fouls were whistled in the game with both squads attempting 26 free throws on the night.
North Florida continues its current home stand Thursday against Lipscomb at 7:45 p.m. in UNF Arena.
