Ospreys Fall 64-50 To USC Upstate

Thursday, January 21

UNF Arena

7:45 p.m.

University of North Florida

-911, 46 ASun

USC Upstate

-315, 36 ASun

USC Upstate

North Florida

1/21/2010 10:51:57 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida men's basketball team fell 64-50 to USC Upstate in Atlantic Sun Conference play on Thursday, Jan. 21, at UNF Arena.

UNF fell to 9-11 on the year and 4-6 in A-Sun play, while USC Upstate improved to 3-15 and 3-6 in the league.

The next game for the Ospreys is the start of the second half of the A-Sun schedule and a return engagement at Upstate on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. The game can be heard on AM 1320 WBOB and 103.7 FM in Jacksonville or on-line at 1320WBOB.com. It can also be seen live on www.ASun.TV.

After Upstate, arch-rival Jacksonville University visits on Friday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. in the second SunTrust River City Rumble match-up of the year. The Ospreys lost a close 62-55 game at JU on Jan. 18. The game, brought to you by metroPCS, is a “White-Out” game as UNF fans are encouraged to wear white and the first 2,250 fans in attendance will receive a white t-shirt courtesy of UNF Athletics.

UNF fans are being asked to buy their tickets in advance of the game. Ticket prices are $15 for all tickets to the JU game and can be ordered by phone at 904-620-BIRD (2473), by e-mailing the ticket office at www.ospreytickets@unf.edu, or by stopping by UNF Arena at the below times to purchase tickets: Monday, Jan. 25: 1-6 p.m.; Tuesday, Jan. 26: 1-6 p.m.; Wednesday, Jan. 27: 2 p.m.-halftime women's game (approximately 8 p.m.); Thursday, Jan. 28: 1-6 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 29: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

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.

“First thing, our prayers and well wishes go out to head coach (Eddie) Payne from USC Upstate who wasn't here tonight he has an illness and they are not sure what it is,” said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. “He is a long time friend and we are thinking about him and praying for his health and hope he gets better.”

“They came out tonight the aggressor and they punched us right in the mouth and we did not respond. We came out in the second half and had a little bit of fire to us but not enough and they continued to play the way they played. We actually turned the ball over a ton. We did not shoot a high percentage once again from the floor, but most disappointing, we did not defend the way we have always defended and the way we should defend and there was no question that that was the most disappointing thing. If you are not defending it is hard to win. Why have we been winning games? Why have games been close? It is because we have defended. This is a home loss, this is a very disappointing loss, but to Upstate the credit, they were definitely the better team.”

The Ospreys were out-played in the first half and shot just 28.6 percent from the field and committed 12 turnovers. The Spartans led the entire first half and were up 10-5 with 12 minutes remaining before the break. Upstate continued to stretch its lead and led by as many as 18 at 33-15 with 1:09 left in the half. The Spartans took a 16 point lead into halftime at 34-18.

North Florida attempted to make a run in the second half but could get no closer than nine points at 47-38 with 8:41 remaining. UNF only shot a little bit better in the second half, hitting on 34.4 percent of its shots. The Ospreys shot 32.1 percent from the field for the game. Upstate shot 46.7 percent from the field for the game and 40 from 3-point range.

Senior guard Stan Januska led UNF with 18, going 5-10 from 3-point range, and senior guard Eni Cuka added 11. Sophomore Matt Sauey was tied for game-high with 10 rebounds and freshman Will Wilson had a game-high five assists.

North Florida shot 32.1 percent (17-53) from the field, while Upstate shot 46.7 percent (21-45). The Ospreys shot 34.8 percent (8-23) from behind the arc and 61.5 percent (8-13) from the free throw line. The Spartans shot 40 percent (6-15) from 3-point range and 55.2 percent (16-29) from the line. Nick Schneiders led Upstate with 18 points and 10 rebounds.