UNF loses battle at the line to Bears

Sunday, January 11

UNF Arena

2 p.m.

University of North Florida

-313, 15 ASun

Mercer

-88, 23 ASun

Mercer

North Florida

Stan Januska matched a season-high with 17 points.

1/11/2009 5:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Four Ospreys score in double figures

By: Shawn LaFata

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida men's basketball team got double-digit outings from four players for the second game in a row but couldn't duplicate their effort from two nights ago, falling 75-62 to Mercer at UNF Arena.

Stan Januska matched a season-high with 17 points for the Ospreys (3-13, 1-5 A-Sun) but it wasn't enough to overcome a shooting lull in the second half that saw UNF go cold for a seven-minute stretch, allowing Mercer (8-8, 2-3 A-Sun) to go on a 20-6 run.

The Bears did most of their damage from the free throw line, hitting 26 of the 30 shots at the stripe, compared to a UNF squad that hit 10-of-18.

"We were taking too many shots from the outside," UNF head coach Matt Kilcullen said. "If you aren't going to the basket you can't get to the foul line."

Calvin Henry led the Bears at the stripe, hitting 11 of his 12 free throw attempts, helping him notch a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Mercer's James Florence led all players with 25 points.

Eni Cuka followed Januska with 14 points for the Ospreys, scoring 10 of those in the second half. Cortez Riley followed him with 12 points, while Kyle Groothuis had 10.

The two teams battled each other for the first 36 minutes of play with neither team leading by more than eight points.

After trailing by two points at the half, UNF reclaimed the advantage at 45-43 on a jump shot in the lane with 16:04 to play. UNF, however, didn't score another field goal until Groothuis laid a shot in the hoop at the 9:45 mark. By that point UNF trailed by six points and the Bears were in the middle of their second-half run.

It took another four minutes for UNF to scratch the scoreboard on a pair of Januska free throws before 3-pointers by Henry and Mike Hall put the Bears ahead to stay.

"We had an opportunity when we got up in the second half," Kilcullen said. "Our defense was playing good enough but we got too quick on the offensive side and forgot what got us there."

The two teams combined for nine 3-pointers in the opening half, with UNF knocking down four of those. The Ospreys were 4-of-11 from long range in the half, with Januska sinking three of those shots and Riley making the other. Januska scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half. UNF finished 6-of-19 for the game beyond the arc.

The Ospreys led by as many as six points in the opening half before a Florence 3-pointer put Mercer ahead 24-23 at the 6:04 mark of the first half. Mercer was able to push its lead to six points before a Germaine Sparkes turnaround jumper cut the lead to four points before the half. Sparkes scored all eight of his points in the half but made up for his lack of scoring in the second half with 10 rebounds. He finished the game with 11 boards, pulling down double-digit rebounds for the second-straight game.

Mercer won the battle of the boards 38-34, while committing 17 turnovers compared to 14 for UNF. Januska and Matt Sauey each followed Sparkes on the boards with five rebounds apiece. Sauey also chipped in with a career-high five blocks.

The Ospreys will now turn their attention to cross-town rival Jacksonville for a SunTrust River City Rumble matchup on Thursday at 7:45 p.m.