UNF closes out Campbell

Saturday, February 14

UNF Arena

4:15 p.m.

University of North Florida

Campbell

Cortez Riley helped the Ospreys to a 61-59 win on homecoming.

2/14/2009 7:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Three Ospreys in double figures in two-point win

By: Shawn LaFata

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Three players finished in double figures to help the University of North Florida men's basketball team rally for a 61-59 victory against visiting Campbell at UNF Arena.

Eni Cuka scored 12 points to lead the Ospreys (6-20, 4-12 A-Sun), which equaled their all-time win total at the NCAA Division I level, and evened the season series with Campbell (10-15, 7-9 A-Sun) at one game apiece.

After enduring a string of tough losses down the stretch – including a four-point defeat at Campbell – the Ospreys were able to make up a seven-point second-half deficit and hang on, holding Campbell to only one basket in the final three minutes of play.

"Down the stretch our defense was tremendous," UNF head coach Matt Kilcullen said. "Cortez Riley played like a senior point guard for us in the closing minutes. Everyone gave us good minutes today."

Riley finished the game with 11 points, while Matt Sauey came off the bench to score 10.

Seven of Sauey's points came in the second half after UNF watched a 12-point lead in the first half turn into a seven-point deficit on Campbell's opening possession of the second half. Sauey tied the game at 35-35 with a layup that capped an 8-1 UNF run.

The teams traded the lead for the next five minutes before a Stan Januska 3-pointer from the left baseline gave the Ospreys a 45-43 advantage they would not relinquish again. That lead climbed to eight points on a Sauey steal and layup.

Campbell made one last charge, pulling within three points on an Amir Celestin layup with 3:01 left to play. The Camels next two points came with one second to play on a Jonathan Rodriguez layup that gave him his game-leading 15^th point of the night. Riley went to the free throw line after that, making one of two free throws to seal the win for UNF.

"We have been through a lot of tough games lately and we just fought hard today," Sauey said. "Our defense was outstanding down the stretch and I think that was the key to getting the win."

Sauey added five rebounds and five blocks to his totals on the day, while Cuka tied Rodriguez with a game-high six rebounds.

Campbell won the rebounding battle 36-27.

The Ospreys shot 52.3 percent from the field for the game, including 66.7 percent in the second half, and held the Camels to 35.2 percent shooting.

UNF started out fast, taking a 9-2 lead out of the gates that it eventually stretched into a 20-8 advantage due in part to a pair of Cuka 3-pointers. Cuka made a free throw at the 11:02 mark of the half that gave UNF a 21-11 lead. UNF, however, started staggering on the offensive end and found itself down 29-25 at the halftime break, thanks to a 19-4 Campbell run that closed the first half.

Cuka led UNF with seven points in the half, compared to Rodriguez who had 10 points to pace the Camels.

The Ospreys will remain home next weekend when they host Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday at 7:45 p.m. before welcoming Stetson on Saturday at 4:15.