Campbell Rallies To Clip North Florida, 59-58, In A-Sun Opener In Buies Creek, N.C.

Friday, November 27

Buies Creek, N.C.

6:15 p.m.

University of North Florida

-13, 01 ASun

Campbell

-41, 10 ASun

North Florida

Campbell

Campbell Rallies To Clip North Florida, 59-58, In A-Sun Opener In Buies Creek, N.C.

11/27/2009 10:04:42 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Ospreys at ETSU on Sunday at 4 p.m.

Box Score

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The University of North Florida men's basketball team dropped a heart-breaker, 59-58, at Campbell in the Atlantic Sun Conference opener for both teams on Friday, Nov. 27, at the Pope Convocation Center in Buies Creek, N.C.

Campbell senior center Kyle Vejraska made one free throw with 3.1 seconds remaining to break a 58-all tie and the Ospreys were unable to get off a final shot. Vejraska missed the second free throw and a tie-up gave UNF the ball back with 1.2 seconds left, but a length of the court pass was deflected as the Camels rallied for the win.

North Florida fell to 1-3 on the year and 0-1 in league play, while Campbell improved to 4-1 and 1-0 in conference action.

"We really came out and executed well at both ends," said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. "The start of the second half they punched us in the mouth but we didn't break and fought back at the end to tie the score and came up with big stop allowing us to have chance to regain the lead. We didn't finish the job and now we travel to ETSU for a Sunday game. They are coming home after a great road win at Arkansas and they are the defending post season champions, making this another outstanding challenge in our second league game."

Campbell erased a 15-point half-time deficit (31-16) by going on a 17-3 run to start the second half and close the gap to 34-33. The Camels took their first lead of the game at 40-39 with 13:30 remaining. Campbell took its biggest lead of the game at seven with 7:41 left, and still led by seven with 5:30 to play, but the Ospreys rebounded to tie the game at 57-57 with 3:44 remaining.

After a Camel free throw put them up 58-58, junior point guard Brad Haugabrook hit one free throw with 1:58 left to tie the game. The game remained tied until Vejraska was fouled with 3.1 seconds left.

Senior guard Stan Januska led the Ospreys with 16 points and sophomore forward Matt Sauey added 15, one shy of his career high. Sauey also added four blocked shots. Freshman forward Andy Diaz led UNF with six rebounds, while Haugabrook dished out a game and career-high seven assists.

Campbell, picked to finish sixth in the A-Sun, was led by Jonathan Rodriguez's 18 points and nine rebounds, both game highs.

For the game, UNF shot 50 percent from the field (22-44), 46 percent from 3-point range (6-13) and 67 percent from the line (8-12). Campbell shot 44 percent from the field (17-39), 46 percent from 3-point range (5-11) and 83 percent from the stripe (20-24), which proved to be the difference in the game.

The Ospreys opened the game on a 9-0 run, holding Campbell scoreless until the 14:33 mark of the first half. The North Florida defense held the Camels to 26.3 percent shooting (5-19) in the first half, forced 13 turnovers and led by 15 at the break.

Sauey led UNF with eight first half points and Januska tossed in seven. The Ospreys shot 50 percent (12-24) in the first half and also connected on 50 percent of their 3-pointers (3-6). Haugabrook dished out four assists in the first half and Sauey blocked three shots.

Conference play continues Sunday, Nov. 29, as the Ospreys are at East Tennessee State for a 4 p.m. tip. The ETSU game can be heard on AM 1320 WBOB in Jacksonville or on-line at 1320WBOB.com. The game can also be watched online for a fee on ASun.TV.

ETSU is 3-3 on the year after beating Arkansas 94-85 on the road on Friday, Nov. 27. The ETSU game is game three of a nine-game road trip for North Florida before returning home Dec. 30 to face Palm Beach Atlantic.

After ESTU the Ospreys travel to Alabama to face the Crimson Tide on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 8 p.m. ET.

The Alabama game can be heard on taped delay on AM 1320 WBOB in Jacksonville or on-line at 1320WBOB.com. The taped delay time has not been set yet.

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.