Illinois State Uses First-Half Surge To Down Ospreys 71-55 In Normal, Ill.

Saturday, November 21

Normal, Ill.

5 p.m.

University of North Florida

1-2

Illinois State

2-0

North Florida

Illinois State

Illinois State Uses First-Half Surge To Down Ospreys 71-55 In Normal, Ill.

11/21/2009 8:32:47 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Januska leads Ospreys with 13

BOX SCORE

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida men's basketball team fell to Illinois State 71-55 Saturday, Nov. 21, at Doug Collins Court in Redbird Arena in Normal, Ill.

North Florida falls to 1-2 on the year, while Illinois State improves to 2-0.

Senior guard Stan Januska led the Ospreys with 13 points, while junior guard Brad Haugabrook dropped in nine. Januska was 5-8 from the field and 3-5 from 3-point range.

Illinois State, picked to finish third in the tough Missouri Valley Conference, was led by MVC preseason player of the year Osiris Eldridge. Eldridge finished with 24 points, five assists four steals and three rebounds.

North Florida battled the Redbirds tough early on but a big run midway through the first half gave ISU a 42-17 cushion at the break. It was 16-12 Illinois State with 11:22 left in the first half as ISU then went on a 12-0 run to stretch its lead to 28-12 and ended the half on a 26-5 run.

The Ospreys out-scored the Redbirds 38-29 in the second half as nine different UNF players scored.

Eleven players in all scored for UNF as the Ospreys shot 49 percent (21-43) from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range (6-12). Illinois State shot 59 percent (29-49) for the game and 50 percent (8-16) from 3-point range.

“We came out focused and on point down four at the under-12 media timeout,” said head coach Matthew Driscoll. “They ended the half 26-5 and really dominated both ends causing us to turn the ball over 14 times. We challenged our guys in the second half to play five media timeout games, erasing the score at the end of each one. We won that series 3-2. Our three non-conference games have really gotten us ready for the start of conference play this coming Friday and we look forward to the challenge of starting on the road at Campbell and ETSU.”

This was the first meeting all-time between the schools.

North Florida opens Atlantic Sun Conference play at Campbell on Friday, Nov. 27, at 6:15 p.m. ET. Conference play continues two days later as the Ospreys are at East Tennessee State on Sunday, Nov. 29, at 4 p.m. Both games can be heard live on AM 1320 WBOB in Jacksonville or on-line at 1320WBOB.com. They can also be watched on ASun.TV.

A season ticket for basketball is $120 and includes all men's and women's home games, a total of 28 games on 19 event dates, including nine Atlantic Sun Conference double headers. A special rate is available for UNF Alumni ($110) and UNF Faculty and Staff ($105). A Family 4-pack is also available for the season at $360. Select seating areas require an Osprey Club membership (per seat donation).

Single-game pricing is $10 for adults and $8 for youth 17-and-under and senior citizens 55-and-older. Children 2-and-under and any current UNF student with a valid Osprey1 Card are admitted free. Student guest passes are $5 and limited to one per student.

For more information or to purchase basketball season tickets call 904-620-BIRD (2473) or email ospreytickets@unf.edu.