Monday, November 23, 2009

MACON, Ga. - Campbell’s Jonathan Rodriguez helped the Camels to two wins during the week keeping them unbeaten and earning the senior Atlantic Sun Player of the Week honors, the conference announced Monday.

Rodriguez registered his third-straight double-double, tying the A-Sun career record of 42 in the process, while leading the Camels to a 3-0 start, best in the league. The native of Bayamon, Perto Rico averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds in wins against East Carolina (74-68) and at UNC Asheville (85-66). He scored 13 second half points in the win verus Conference USA member ECU and grabbed 10 boards in the Camels first win against the Pirates since Dec. 1994.

In Saturday's victory at UNC Asheville (picked second in the Big South preseason poll), he led five Camels in double digits with 15 points (6-8 field goals) and grabbed 10 rebounds. The sports management major tied Scott Emerson of Mercer (1999-2004) for the A-Sun career lead in double-doubles (since records began being tracked at the start of the 1996-97 season) and moved into 14th place on the conference’s career scoring list (1678 points). He has led the Camels to their first 3-0 start since '06-07.
 
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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers
Jon Slater, Lipscomb (Jr. - Guard - Nashville, Tenn. - Corporate Management) – Slater delivered strong performances in the first full week of the 2009-10 season against Vanderbilt and Tennessee Tech. Slater scored 20 points, one off his career high, at Vanderbilt Monday night. He had a team-high six rebounds as Lipscomb out-rebounded their Southeastern Conference foe. He also had six assists and two steals. Thursday evening against Tennessee Tech, Slater had 19 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals. He hit a career-high 11 free throws against Tennessee Tech on a career high 15 attempts. For the week Slater averaged 19.5 points, 6 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. He had a 1.57 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Mick Hedgepeth, Belmont (So. - Forward - Crossville, Ala. - Accounting) – Hedgepeth recorded his second career double-double, registering 11 points, 10 rebounds and adding four blocked shots as Belmont defeated defending SWAC Champion Alabama State Saturday, 78-42. Hedgepeth ranks among the A-Sun leaders in scoring, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and blocked shots. He scored a career-high 19 points vs. Wright State Nov. 15.

Tommy Hubbard, ETSU (Jr. - Forward - Boston - Business) Hubbard, a junior forward, posted back-to-back double-doubles against Chattanooga Tuesday and Morgan State Thursday, and nearly missed his third with nine points and nine rebounds against No. 20 Louisville last week. Hubbard averaged 18 points and 10.7 rebounds in those three games a week ago. His 26 points, 13 rebounds and four 3-pointers against the Mocs were all career bests. In fact, he had never made a 3-pointer until the Chattanooga game, and for the week he was 6-of-11 from beyond the arc.