University of North Florida
Jacksonville
UNF falls to Dolphins, 88-71
12/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 2, 2005
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The first men's basketball matchup between River City rivals North Florida and Jacksonville as conference foes had it all on Friday night at Swisher Gymnasium - excitement, energy, a packed house and plenty of big-time runs.
Both teams put on basketball clinics for stretches, rallying back and forth as the squads met for the first time in Atlantic Sun Conference play. Eventually it was the Dolphins who managed the game-clincher.
After UNF erased a nine-point halftime deficit to take a four-point lead midway through the second half, the Dolphins took control - exploding for a 20-2 run and a sizable enough lead to hold on for a 88-71 win. UNF made one final run to slice its deficit to to 71-68 with four minutes to go, but couldn't didn't score a basket the rest of the way.
The game dropped UNF to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in league play, while the Dolphins (1-2, 1-0 A-Sun) won their first game under first-year head coach Cliff Warren in front of a record crowd of 1,548 in the 1,500-seat arena. JU officials turned away more than 200 patrons at the door.
Jesse Kimbrough led the charge for JU, scoring 25 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists, leading four Dolphins in double figures. Fifteen of those points came in the second half and nine in the final four minutes. The Dolphins shot 43 percent for the game and outrebounded UNF, 56-42.
UNF shot just 37 percent and had 17 turnovers. Rashad Williams had another productive night for the Ospreys, scoring 18 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Riley Didion added 12 points and Chris Timberlake 11.
"Our guys fought hard to get back into the game after falling beind," UNF head coach Matt Kilcullen said. "Give JU credit. Their guys made the plays and we couldn't make enough plays on the offensive end. We got a lot of touches inside, but we couldn't get finishes. Our guys brought the fight, but I think we were a little tired at the end. JU had a week to rest and we played only two days ago. Our legs weren't as fresh, but that wasn't why we lost. We simply didn't make the plays when we needed them."
The whistle proved to be JU's biggest ally in the first half, with three UNF starters getting into early foul trouble. Chris Timberlake, Alain Laroche and Carl McNally each picked up two quick whistles and headed to the bench for the majority of the first 20 minutes.
That left UNF's reserves to fight the battle against the Dolphins' more sizable front line. Behind a pair of key 3-pointers by Riley Didion, the Ospeys worked their way out to a 24-15 lead in the first eight minutes but couldn't hold it.
An 11-0 JU run pushed the Dolphins ahead 26-24, and after a UNF 3-pointer pushed the Ospreys briefly back in front, the Dolphins cranked out an 18- 9 run from there to take a 44-36 lead at the intermission.
The second half opened with another hefty run, this time by the Ospreys. After JU hit its first two field goals to move ahead 48-36, UNF answered with an 18-2 run to grab a 54-50 lead.
JU exploded from there, racing out to its biggest lead of the night - 70-56 with six minutes remaining. Even that wasn't safe, however.
UNF made one final charge, pulling to within three points with 3:32 to go, but the Ospreys could never get closer. JU pulled away down the stretch for the win and a 2-0 lead in the all-time series between the teams.
The Ospreys will take 10 days off for final exams, returning to action on Dec. 12 at home against Savannah State, the first Division I team to ever play at UNF Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be televised locally on Comcast Channel 57.
