University of North Florida
USC Upstate
UNF men drop Peach Belt road opener to USC Upstate
2/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Jan. 8, 2005) - The University of North Florida men's basketball team gave itself a chance in its Peach Belt road opener against USC Upstate on Saturday afternoon. Once again, turnovers proved to be the difference.
UNF committed 26 turnovers, which led to 29 points for the Spartans, as the Ospreys allowed a late lead to slip away in a 74-65 loss at the G.B. Hodge Center.
Charleston Long scored 21 points to lead USC Upstate (10-3, 2-0 PBC), which is ranked third in the latest Division II South Atlantic Region poll. UNF (5-11, 0-2 PBC) shot 47 percent and won the rebounding battle, 38-28, but couldn't overcome its late miscues. UNF guard Derrick Scott scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his first career double-double.
"You are not going to beat anybody when you turn the ball over 26 times," UNF head coach Matt Kilcullen said. "We are not protecting the basketball and making the plays we need to make. It is embarrassing, and we need to find a solution pretty quick."
Both teams came out firing early, but UNF shot 46 percent over the first 20 minutes to help build a 26-23 lead. A 4-0 run by the Spartans just before halftime gave them a 27-26 lead.
In the second half, Upstate continued with its torrid shooting, racing out to a 38-30 lead in the first four minutes. Things stayed that way until UNF turned up the pressure and forced its way back into the game.
A Carl McNally jumper pushed UNF ahead 52-50 with 7:15 to play, and the Ospreys led 55-52 with 5:10 to go. A pair of quick baskets by C.J. Paul tied the game on Upstate's next two possessions, however, and the Spartans never looked back from there.
Anthony Earl Jr. added 13 points, James Grimball 12 and Donny Lotz 11 for UNF.
UNF returns to play on Wednesday against Columbus State at UNF Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The game will be aired on WIOJ-AM 1010 and carried live via the World Wide Web at www.unf.edu/sports.
