Special to The Messenger

Jan. 27, 2001 10 PM

Troy State’s Robert Rushing hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 35 seconds left in regulation and then scored 11 of his 26 points in overtime to lead the Trojans to a come-from-behind victory over Campbell, 92-85, at Carter Gymnasium Saturday.

Lemayn Wilson added Matt Holman each added 20 points as the Trojans (10-9, 6-4 TAAC) won their fourth straight and improved to 7-0 all-time against the Camels (4-14, 2-8 TAAC). The win also pushed Troy State over .500 for the first time this season.

"We feel really fortunate to win the game," Troy State head coach Don Maestri said. "Campbell played a great game, and we played a great game. They were awesome from the free throw line and made big shots."

Campbell overcame a five-point halftime deficit and led by as many as five points twice in the second half, the last time with less than three minutes to go, before the Trojans put together their second consecutive game-saving rally.

"At the end of the game, the fact that we allowed them just one rebound and limited their shots was the difference," Maestri said.

Campbell’s Adam Fellers led scoring with 32 points, and proved to be a thorn in the Trojans’ side all day.

Campbell opened the game on fire, using a flurry of long-range 3-pointers by Fellers in the first five minutes to race out to a 15-5 lead. The Trojans rallied with a 16-3 run over the next two minutes to go up 21-18.

From there, TSU stretched its lead to as many as nine points, 40-31 with 3:21 to go, before settling for a 44-39 advantage at the intermission.

In the second half, the Trojans scored the first four points to forge a quick 48-39 lead, but it didn’t last long. The Camels flew back behind Fellers, scoring 13 straight to take a 52-48 lead with 16 minutes to play.

The teams battled back and forth from there, exchanging the lead four times and forcing four ties, before Campbell worked out to a 71-66 lead with 1:50 to play on back-to-back baskets by Fellers.

Rushing, a junior, led the charge in overtime to help TSU win for the eighth time in its last 10 games.

TSU shot 44 percent in the game (31-71) and 35 percent from 3-point range (12-34). Campbell shot 42 percent (30-71) and 33 percent from 3-point range (8-24). The Camels outrebounded Troy State, 47-39.

The Trojans return to action on Monday at league-leader Georgia State in Atlanta. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.