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Men's hoops looks for A-Sun road trip sweep Saturday at FGCU
Courtesy: GoCamels.com
          Release: 02/05/2010
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Campbell at FGCU game notes Campbell at FGCU game notes

FORT MYERS, FLA. - Coming off a 65-47 triumph Thursday at Stetson, Campbell looks for a sweep of its two-game road trip Saturday in a 5:15 p.m. tip-off at Florida Gulf Coast.

The Camels (13-9, 8-5) are tied for third place in the Atlantic Sun Conference standings and enter the weekend just two games behind league leading Jacksonville (9-3) in the loss column.

Florida Gulf Coast (7-16, 4-10) has lost its last 3 games, all less than 3 possession decisions.  In fact, FGCU's last six games have all been decided by 9 or fewer points.

Campbell seeks a season sweep of the Eagles following last month's 61-45 victory at Buies Creek, N.C., where the Camels held FGCU to its lowest point output of the year.  Jonathan Rodriguez led CU with 19 points and 10 rebounds.  The Camels led 38-22 at the half and never trailed while forcing 23 FGCU turnovers.

FGCU has dropped 9 of its last 11 games overall.  The Eagles stand 4-5 at home this year, 2-4 against A-Sun schools at 4500-seat Alico Arena.  Campbell is 4-3 in A-Sun road games this year.

Since joining the A-Sun in 2007-08, Florida Gulf Coast is 17-31 in league regular season games, 2-2 against the Camels.

Campbell ranks 5th in the nation in steals (10.68) and 11th in turnover margin (+4.45).

Jonathan Rodriguez is just the 2nd player in the Atlantic Sun Conference and  the 101st in NCAA Division I history to compile 2000 points and 1000 rebounds in his career.  He enters Saturday's game with 2025 points and 1010 rebounds in 113 outings and needs just 19 points to move past Courtney Pigram (2043 points from 2005-09) into 3rd place on the A-Sun career scoring charts.

Junard Hartley tops the A-Sun in assists (5.82) and steals (2.41) and ranks 21st nationally in both categories.

Five Camels played high school basketball in the State of Florida -- Amir Celestin (Miami / Norland), Lorne Merthie (Sanford / Winter Springs), Jonathan Rodriguez (Miami / Calusa Prep), Miles Taylor (Pensacola / Woodham) and Kyle Vejraska (Alachua / Santa Fe).  Celestin, Merthie, Rodriguez and Vejraska earned all-state honors, while Celestin and Rodriguez led their high schools to state championships.

If Campbell wins on Saturday, it would equal the 14 victories posted by last year's club (and the 2006-07 squad) to tie as the most notched by the Camels since the 1996 team finished 17-11.

FGCU won the first two games in the series against the Camels by a total of 9 points, but the Camels have won the last 2 -- both at Gore Arena.

Last month at Buies Creek, Florida Gulf Coast produced the lowest scoring output (45 points)  by a CU opponent in Coach Robbie Laing's seven seasons at Campbell and the fewest surrendered by a Camel squad since Division II Wingate scored just 41 on Dec. 30, 1997.

Campbell stands 11-3 this year when holding foes to less than 70 points in a game.  FGCU is averaging 64.5 points per contest, 9th in the A-Sun.

FGCU junior guard Reed Baker (who transferred from Michigan) leads the A-Sun in free throw percentage (.845) and ranks 17th in scoring (11.5).  Sophomore guard Reggie Chambers stands 25th among league scoring leaders (9.7), 4th in assists (4.13) and 8th in steals (1.61).  Freshman forward Anthony Banks recorded his 5th double-double of the year with 23 points and 10 rebounds in Monday's 78-72 loss at Mercer.

FGCU is in its final year of transition to full NCAA Division I membership and will be eligible to compete for the Atlantic Sun Conference championship in 2010-11.

Following Saturday's contest, the Camels begin a 4-game home stand next Friday (Feb. 12) against Mercer.

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