Ospreys complete colossal comeback

Sunday, January 25

DeLand, Fla.

5 p.m.

University of North Florida

-416,28 ASun

Stetson

-811,56 ASun

North Florida

Stetson

Senior Cortez Riley drained the game-winning buzzer beater

1/25/2009 8:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

UNF trailed by 13 points in both halves

By: Adam Jonson, UNF Athletics

Box Score

DELAND, Fla. – Off the hands of senior Cortez Riley, the ball took two bounces off the iron with no time left on the clock and fell through the net to give the University of North Florida men's basketball team its first Atlantic Sun Conference road win of the season and first-ever win against Stetson – a 55-53 comeback victory.

"I'm thrilled for Cortez, our team and all the fans that came to support us tonight," UNF head coach Matt Kilcullen said. "I could not be more proud of this team right now. They got the monkey off their back, which is tremendous for the guys leading up to our next games at home."

UNF (4-16, 2-8 A-Sun) trailed by as many as 13 in the early going of both halves. Stetson (8-11, 5-6) sprinted to a 17-4 lead in the first six and a half minutes of the game before the Ospreys sparked a 10-0 run to slice the home team's lead to only three points less five minutes later.

Freshman Zack Riggins scored six of his eight first half points during the stretch and finished the contest with a career-high 16 points. Junior Eni Cuka provided six points in the final 10 minutes of the first half, helping UNF cut into a nine-point Hatter lead in the final three minutes before halftime. Stetson led 27-24 at the break.

The Hatters opened the second half by quickly building its second 13-point lead, doing so less than five minutes into the final frame. Down 40-27, the Ospreys battled back to outscore Stetson 20-3 over the next nine minutes and 37 seconds, mounting a four-point lead with 5:59 left to play.

"Teams with less heart would have conceded after suffering a 13-3 run," Kilcullen said. "We had some freshmen step up and play big minutes, and our defense down the stretch was absolutely tremendous. When we needed to make the big stops, we came through."

Riggins played a career-high 29 minutes and freshman Jordan Fair saw 13 minutes of action – three minutes shy of his career best. The Ospreys held Stetson to .316 percent shooting from the floor and .231 from long range. UNF hit .537 percent of their attempts from the field.

Cuka gave UNF its first lead of the game at the 6:39 mark of the second half on a pair of free throws before flushing the Ospreys' only 3-pointer of the game, which opened UNF's four point advantage – its biggest of the game. Kris Thomas drilled a free throw to complete a three-point play and give Stetson its only lead inside the seven-minute mark with less than two and a half minutes remaining, 50-49.

Thomas fired true for a game-high 19 points to lead three Hatters in double figures. Garfield Blair added 12 points and nine rebounds and Eric Diaz notched 10 points and six boards, five offensive.

Cuka put down a jumper with 2:10 remaining, marking his team-high 17 points. Junior Stan Januska laid the ball in the basket for his only two points with a little more than a minute and a half to play, giving UNF a three-point edge. Blair cut the Osprey lead to one with 1:12 to play and with 14 seconds left Diaz knotted the score at 53-53 on his first free throw attempt but failed to connect on the second.

Januska pulled down the rebound off Diaz's miss and passed it ahead to Riley who pushed it up the floor in the closing seconds. Riley drove left and picked up his dribble, looking to hand the ball off to Cuka. When the pass was denied, Riley elevated with less than two seconds left, double clutched, and connected on the game-winning bucket.

"It's time for us to enjoy this win tonight before we begin to prepare tomorrow for USC Upstate," Kilcullen said. "We want to thank all of the fans who made the trip down tonight and hope everyone turns out at UNF Arena on Friday."

Ending their three-game road swing with a thrilling win, the Ospreys make their next appearance at UNF Arena on Jan. 30, hosting USC Upstate at 7 p.m. before taking on East Tennessee State at 2 p.m. on Feb. 2 at UNF Arena.