Ospreys rally late but can't overcome Jacksonville, falling 78-73

Tuesday, November 23

Jacksonville, Fla.

7:00 PM

University of North Florida

Jacksonville

Ospreys rally late but can't overcome Jacksonville, falling 78-73

2/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

GAME NOTES l BOX SCORE

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Nov. 23, 2004) - The University of North Florida men's basketball team traveled across town to face Jacksonville University on Tuesday night knowing that history was stacked against it.

UNF had never before beaten a Division I program, losing its previous 10 games against foes from college athletics' highest division. That streak nearly ended against the Dolphins.

Freshman Chris Timberlake scored 16 points and former JU guard Riley Didion added 15 points to lead UNF (1-4), but the Ospreys couldn't overcome a hot-shooting JU squad in falling, 78-73, before an announced crowd of 1,006 at Swisher Gymnasium.

Jacksonville (1-1) shot 56 percent but had to survive a late rally by UNF that sliced an 11-point second-half deficit to 74-71 with 1:22 to play. The Ospreys forced a steal at that point but were called for a loose-ball foul during the ensuing scramble to thwart their final stab.

Jacksonville sank their final four free throws, and UNF misfired on its final two shots, to allow the Dolphins to escape in the first meeting between the city schools.

"The little things cost us tonight," UNF head coach Matt Kilcullen said. "I was proud of our effort. I thought we played hard and fought hard. We just needed to make a play here or there to win it, and we weren't able to do it. Our guys never gave up, though, and I think we can learn a lot from how we played."

Antonio Cool blistered the nets for the Dolphins, scoring 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Haminn Quaintance added 16 points for JU, which shot 63 percent in the first half.

The Dolphins jumped out to a 24-12 lead in the first nine minutes and appeared poised to put the game away early. A pair of key 3-pointers by Chris Timberlake brought the Ospreys back, however, and sliced their deficit to 34-32 with 3:39 to play in the half. JU led 40-36 at halftime.

In the second half, the teams battled back and forth, with JU stretching out to its biggest lead at 65-54 with 8:07 to go. UNF battled back one more time but could never get over the hump in losing its seventh straight game away from home.

UNF shot 45 percent (22-of-49) and hit 23-of-30 free throws. The Ospreys also outrebounded JU, 29-28.

The Ospreys return to action on Saturday when they travel to Winston-Salem (N.C.) State. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.

The game will be carried on WIOJ-AM 1010 and can also be heard via the internet at www.unf.edu/sports.