Preview: Monmouth Hawks at Campbell Fightin’ Camels

LILLINGTON, N.C. (Interstat) — Two teams with identical records and a recent nail-biter in the series will meet Saturday when the Monmouth Hawks visit the Campbell Fightin’ Camels in a Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball matchup.

Both teams enter the 4 p.m. EST contest at the John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center with 9-11 overall records. The matchup is a quick rematch of a Dec. 31 game in West Long Branch, New Jersey, where Campbell edged Monmouth 68-65.

The Fightin’ Camels (9-11) will lean on guard Jeremiah Johnson, who has been a consistent scoring threat. Johnson scored 11 points in the first meeting against Monmouth and is coming off a 20-point performance in a narrow 78-75 loss at UNC Wilmington on Jan. 17. Over his last six games, Johnson is averaging 17.0 points per contest. Campbell seeks to rebound from an 87-83 road loss at College of Charleston on Thursday.

Monmouth (9-11) looks to avenge its late-December loss and build momentum after a split in its last two outings. The Hawks fell 65-63 at Hampton on Thursday but secured an 81-68 home victory over Northeastern on Jan. 19. Their season has been marked by streaks, including a three-game winning streak in early January.

The game features two squads battling for positioning in the CAA standings. Campbell’s home-court advantage has been notable, with wins in three of its last four games in Lillington, including a decisive 86-72 victory over Hampton on Jan. 8.

For Monmouth, finding consistent scoring beyond its top performers will be key after a low-output game at Hampton. Containing Johnson will be a focal point for the Hawks’ defense.

The winner will move to .500 in conference play and gain a valuable head-to-head tiebreaker as the CAA schedule nears its midpoint.