University of North Florida
CAMPBELL
Ospreys can't smoke Camels
1/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2007
BUIES CREEK, N.C. - The University of North Florida men's basketball team nearly put its season-long road woes to bed on Thursday night against Campbell in Atlantic Sun Conference play.
Clutch shooting by Campbell, and a timely technical foul, helped end the Ospreys' threat, however, and send UNF to a 54-49 loss at Carter Gymnasium.
Jonathan Rodriguez scored 14 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the way for the Camels (9-10, 4-5 A-Sun), who rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit to send UNF to its 26th consecutive loss away from home. The Camels missed 12 of their first 14 shots to open the game and hit just 31 percent total, but managed to make shots when they counted down the stretch in sweeping the season series between the teams.
UNF's James Grimball scored 15 points to lead the Ospreys (2-18, 0-10 A-Sun), and despite battling foul trouble for much of the second half, was dominating the Camels' inside. A technical foul was assessed to the UNF junior with 4:51 remaining, however, after Grimball was fouled hard by Stephon Griffin while driving to the basket. The players glared at each other following the play, after which Grimball walked away and Griffin continued to taunt from behind.
Officials called a double technical foul, however, which disqualified Grimball with his fifth foul. Aaron Caruthers came on to hit one of two free throws for Grimball to tie the game at 47, but Campbell outscored UNF 7-2 from there to secure the win.
UNF committed 22 turnovers and hit only eight of 16 free throws on the night to aid in its demise.
"We have to learn to finish games," UNF head coach Matt Kilcullen said. "I thought our guys battled and made plays, but we got a little tired in the second half. Their defense was very physical, and they ran a lot of bodies in and out. We just didn't hit free throws and take care of the ball. That was the difference."
The Ospreys came out firing in both halves, taking a 7-0 lead in the first half and leading 13-8 at the 11:43 mark. The Camels outscored UNF 12-0 over the next three minutes, however, to take the lead and held a 22-20 advantage at the half.
In the second half, UNF again came out blistering the nets - outscoring Campbell 13-0 over the first four minutes to move ahead 33-22. The Ospreys led 42-32 with 11:02 to play, but couldn't keep it going. Rodriguez scored four straight points, and Eric Smith and Russ Gibson added field goals after that bring the Camels within 42-40 at the 7:41 mark.
Smith's 3-pointer put the Camels ahead 47- 46 two minutes later, setting up the wild finish. UNF had two chances to tie in the final minute but couldn't convert.
Smith added 14 points and Reggie Bishop 10 for Campbell.
UNF will cap its two-game swing through North Carolina on Saturday when the Ospreys face Gardner-Webb at 8:15 p.m. in Boiling Springs. The game will be aired in Jacksonville on WIOJ-AM 1010 and via the World Wide Web at www.UNFOspreys.com.
