University of North Florida
BELMONT
Belmont takes out UNF, 78-72
1/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2006
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida's Rashad Williams scored a career- high 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds - tying a career best - but it wasn't enough to help the Ospreys overcome hot-shooting Belmont in Atlantic Sun Conference play on Saturday afternoon at UNF Arena.
Belmont (5-7, 3-2 A-Sun) shot 61 percent for the game and got 17 points from Josh Goodwin - one of four Bruins in double figures - to stave off a late rally by UNF and post a 78-72 win. The home loss was UNF's first in four games this season.
The Ospreys (3-9, 0-5 A-Sun) trailed by just three at halftime and stayed within arm's length early in the second half before finally tying the game at 57 with eight minutes remaining. Andrew Preston's layup put Belmont back on top for good on the Bruins' next possession, however, and the Ospreys couldn't muster another rally.
The Bruins rode the back of 6-foot-11 center Boomer Herndon and went 9-for-11 from the free throw line in the final two minutes to stay in control. Herndon scored five straight points in one stretch and finished with 13 points for the game.
Justin Hare added 16 points and Andy Wicke 12 for the Bruins, who committed 20 turnovers were outrebounded 34-23. Chris Timberlake added 15 points for UNF, which shot 39 percent for the game and hit 27-of-34 free throws.
The Ospreys were just 7-for-12 from the foul line in the last seven minutes.
"I like the way we battled," UNF head coach Matt Kilcullen said. "The free throw line hurt us tonight in the second half, and we let their big man (Herndon) get too close to the basket a few times. But give credit to Belmont. They are very solid and well- coached, and they hit some big shots when they needed them."
Belmont was 9-of-16 from 3-point range, while UNF was just 5-of-21. The Ospreys, who have lost six straight, played their fourth straight game without leading scorer Alain Laroche, who is sidelined with a wrist injury.
UNF returns to action on Monday night at UNF Arena against Lipscomb. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. The game will be aired locally on WIOJ-AM 1010 and via the World Wide Web at www.UNFOSpreys.com
