University of North Florida
Kennesaw State
Ospreys can't connect at end
1/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 14, 2006
MARIETTA, Ga. - The North Florida men's basketball team could have used a little luck - or at least a friendly bounce - on Saturday afternoon in its game against longtime rival and fellow Atlantic Sun Conference newcomer Kennesaw State.
A full-court heave by UNF's David Ashwell hit the backboard square and missed by only an inch from dropping into the basket as time expired in a 78-76 loss to the Owls at the KSU Convocation Center.
The loss was a school-record ninth consecutive for UNF (3-11, 0-7 A-Sun), which has lost five games in the streak by seven points or less. It also marked the Ospreys' sixth straight loss to KSU, which dates back to when the teams were members of the Division II Peach Belt Conference.
Senior Alain Laroche scored 22 points to lead UNF in his first game since Dec. 29. Laroche had missed five consecutive contests with a wrist injury but looked good against the Owls (8-8, 6-1 A-Sun), hitting 8-of-15 shots from the floor.
It may have been the shot he never took, however, that proved to be the difference in a game that featured seven ties and 12 lead changes.
Trailing 77-74 with 12 seconds remaining, Laroche elected to drive and hit a 12-footer with two seconds on the clock rather than attempt a 3- pointer to tie. That left the Ospreys a point shy at 77-76. After a foul on the inbounds, KSU's Golden Ingle hit the first of his two free throws before Ashwell's desperation shot misfired.
"We did everything to win the game," UNF head coach Matt Kilcullen said. "Another play here or there and we walk away happy. I am proud of the guys. We did what we needed to do. We just needed another play here or there to finish it."
KSU guard Golden Ingle scored 19 points to lead the Owls, who had four players finish in double figures. UNF had four players in double figures as well, including Chris Timberlake with 14, Rashad Williams with 12 and Riley Didion with 11.
KSU and UNF each shot 49 percent from the floor, while UNF outrebounded the Owls 32-26.
UNF battled back from an early six-point deficit with a 13-7 run over the final five minutes of the first half to take a 37-36 halftime lead. The Ospreys stretched that advantage out to six points - 42-36 - in the first minute of the second half and led 52-47 with 13:37 remaining.
After a 7-1 run forged the Owls briefly back ahead, the Ospreys answered with a short burst of their own to take their final lead of the game at 58-57 with 8:32 remaining.
An Ingle 3-pointer gave KSU the lead for good one possession later, however, and the Owls never looked back - getting clutch shots from Ingle, Andre Morgan and Brent Ragsdale to build a 73-66 lead with 1:19 to play. Timberlake and Didion each sank 3- pointers in the waning moments to bring the Ospreys within a point twice, but KSU was 4-for-6 from the free throw line in the final minute to help preserve the win.
The Ospreys will complete their road swing on Monday night with a game at East Tennessee State in Johnson City. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
