University of North Florida
USC Aiken
UNF men eliminated in opener at PBC tourney, 80-72
3/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
AUGUSTA, Ga. (March 2, 2005) - The University of North Florida men's basketball team couldn't get past an old nemesis in the opening round of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament on Wednesday night.
Once again, USC Aiken left the Ospreys feeling blue.
The No. 5 seed in the North Division, and losers of 10 straight games coming in, the Pacers (7- 20) played one of their best games of the season - shooting 49 percent and outrebounding UNF 39-28 - to post an 80-72 upset over the No. 4 South seed Ospreys (14-17) at Augusta State's Christenberry Field House.
The victory improved USC Aiken to 5-0 all time against UNF in PBC Tournament play and it marked the second straight season that the Pacers have ended UNF's season in Augusta.
Donny Lotz scored 24 points for the Ospreys, and David Ashwell added 16 points and 11 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to prevent a loss in UNF's final game as a Division II program. The school moves to Division I next season and will play in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
UNF came in as one of the hottest teams in the PBC, having won nine of its last 12 games.
"Come conference tournament time, you have to limit your mental mistakes," UNF head coach Matt Kilcullen said. "We didn't do that at times in this game. We didn't have any defensive intensity early, and in the second half we had three key possessions that we got nothing out of late. That was the difference."
Adding to the demise was USCA's performance at the free throw line, where the Pacers hit 19 of 23 shots - all in the second half. In the final three minutes, USCA was 18-of-19 from the line to seal the win.
Josh Poston led the Pacers with 16 points, including all eight free throws he attempted. Josh Geyer added 15 points and Richard Blocker 12.
The teams battled back and forth early before USCA raced out to a 38-34 lead at halftime behind 55 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes. UNF shot 50 percent but committed 10 turnovers that led to 17 USCA points.
In the second half, the Pacers maintained their lead behind the aggressive play of Poston and an impressive display of offensive rebounding. UNF battled back from as many as six points down to retake the lead with 2:33 to play but couldn't hold it.
After Riley Didion's free throw pushed the Ospreys ahead 62-59, the Pacers put together a 10- 1 run over the next two minutes to put the game away.
UNF shot 48 percent for the game and hit just 11-of-20 free throw attempts. USCA tallied 15 offensive rebounds and finished with 17 second- chance points.
"The Peach Belt has been a great experience," Kilcullen said. "The coaching in this league is underrated. It is a great brand of basketball. We've enjoyed our time here."
