University of North Florida
USC Aiken
UNF men slide past USC Aiken, 82-75
2/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2005) - North Florida center David Ashwell scored 14 points to lead six UNF players in double figures on Saturday afternoon as the Ospreys continued their winning ways, dispatching of USC Aiken 82-75 in Peach Belt Conference basketball at UNF Arena.
The victory was the eighth in 10 games for UNF (13- 15, 8-6 PBC), which shot 51 percent and survived a strong second-half surge by the Pacers (6-18, 2-12 PBC). The Ospreys secured at least the No. 4 South Division seed in the upcoming Peach Belt Conference Tournament with the win and avenged an ugly 90-58 loss to USC Aiken in last year's conference tournament.
"I thought our guys came out and did what they needed to do to win the game," UNF head coach Matt Kilcullen said. "We played solid defense at the end and made free throws. (USC Aiken) kept coming at us and never quit. I was proud of our effort."
Donny Lotz added 12 points, while Derrick Scott, Anthony Earl Jr., Chris Timberlake and Carl McNally each scored 10. Richard Blocker scored 18 points to lead the Pacers, who trailed 40-26 at halftime.
UNF took control early, getting 10 quick points from McNally midway through the first half to help erase an early 11-6 deficit. The Ospreys built their lead to 30-18 over the next eight minutes to take a commanding lead. They kept that momentum going into halftime.
In the second half, UNF built its lead to as many as 17 points three times before USC Aiken made a final push. After an Earl layup pushed the Ospreys ahead 55-38 with 14 minutes remaining, the Pacers answered with a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to move within 55-47. USCA clawed to within 63-58 with 7:30 to play but could never get closer.
Scott scored all 10 of hits points in the second half to keep the Ospreys comfortably in front and allow them to escape with their eighth home win in 11 tries this season.
UNF hit 27-of-53 field goals but just 3-of-12 from 3- point range. USC Aiken shot 35 percent (22-of-63) and hit 7-of-19 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc. The teams combined to shoot 63 free throws, including 37 in the second half.
The Ospreys will play their final home game on Wednesday when they face Armstrong Atlantic State in a Peach Belt Conference matchup at UNF Arena. The game is part of men's-women's doubleheader, with the men's game set to tip off at approximately 7:30 p.m. Both games will be carried locally on WIOJ- AM 1010 and via the World Wide Web at www.unf.edu/sports.
