JU Rallies Late To Clip North Florida, 62-55

Monday, January 18

Jacksonville, Fla,

8 p.m.

University of North Florida

-910, 45 ASun

Jacksonville

-98, 63 ASun

North Florida

Jacksonville

Cuka scored 11 for the Ospreys

Photo by: Sideline Sports/UNF Athletics

1/18/2010 10:57:06 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Sauey scores team-high 14 for UNF

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida men's basketball team led for the majority of the game before a late surge pushed Jacksonville past the Ospreys, 62-55, in Atlantic Sun Conference action on Monday, Jan. 18, at packed Swisher Gymnasium on the campus of JU.

The Ospreys are 9-10 overall and 4-5 in A-Sun play, while JU is 9-8 overall and 6-3 in the league.

The North Florida men and women return home to take on USC Upstate in double-header action on Thursday, Jan. 21, at UNF Arena. The women tip at 5:30 p.m. in the first game, with the men tipping at 7:45 p.m. Both games can be seen on ASun.TV.

“Obviously second chance points were a big part of their win,” said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. “We were as athletic as they were but they knocked in free throws (27-33). They got 46 points on free throws and second chance points. Obviously that was our biggest error tonight. Our guys fought, they're always going to fight, they are going to compete, they are always going to compete. But I really thought in the last seven minutes it was almost like they were getting closer and I don't know if our guys felt it, but they really brought it up another level. I really felt those guys did that and obviously it went in their favor. We missed some open shots later in the game that we hit earlier in the game. But there is no question that second chance points were the name of the game.”

Both teams started the game out slow with JU holding just an 8-4 lead almost five minutes in, but the Ospreys responded with a 16-6 run to take a 20-14 lead off a jumper from senior guard Eni Cuka with 8:57 on the clock. UNF controlled the rest of the half, not allowing JU any closer than four. The Ospreys took a 32-26 advantage into the locker room.

UNF held the Dolphins to 25 percent from the field while shooting 44.4 percent. Sophomore forward Matt Sauey and Cuka had six points each going into the break while freshman forward Andy Diaz had nine rebounds in the opening half.

The Ospreys maintained their lead for most of the second half and was up by eight (39-31) with 13:21 on the clock. UNF was up 44-37 at the 9:40 mark, but JU went on a 7-0 run to tie the game with just under six minutes remaining. The Dolphins continued their run, taking an eight point, 55-47, lead with 45 seconds left in the game. UNF closed the gap down to five in the final 30 seconds, but JU went 5-of-6 from the line to secure the game.

Sauey led the Ospreys with 14 points on 7-9 shooting. Freshman guard Jerron Granberry added 13 points while Cuka finished with 11. Diaz pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds.

North Florida shot 38.0 percent (19-50) from the field, while Jacksonville shot 27.4 percent (17-62). The Ospreys shot 27.8 percent (5-18) from behind the arc and 63.2 percent (12-19) from the free throw line. The Dolphins shot 7.7 percent (1-13) from 3-point range and 81.8 percent (27-33) from the line. Ben Smith led Jacksonville with 18 points.

Single-game tickets for basketball games are $10 for adults and $8 for youth 17-and-under and senior citizens 55-and-older. One ticket will admit you to both the 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. games on those days. Children 2-and-under and any current UNF student with a valid Osprey1 Card are admitted free. Student guest passes for those events are $5 and limited to one per student. If you are unable to attend the games they can be seen on ASun.tv.