Final Box Score
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The North Florida Ospreys got 10 second half points from junior guard Brad Haugabrook, including four in a decisive 5-0 run with just over four minutes to play, as UNF held off host Florida Gulf Coast 62-56 in Atlantic Sun Conference action on Friday, Jan. 8, at Alico Arena.
With North Florida leading 55-53, Haugabrook hit a short pull-up jumper to put the Ospreys up 57-53 with 3:19 to play. After a missed 3-pointer by FGCU, Haugabrook delivered again with a driving lay-up to make it 59-53 at the 2:47 mark. Freshman forward Andy Diaz hit one free throw to stretch the UNF lead to 60-53 with 2:11 remaining but the Eagles cut the lead to four at 60-56 with a basket and free throw with just 20 seconds left. FGCU missed a 3-pointer and had a turnover and UNF made two free throws to close out the game.
The win improved UNF's record to 7-8 overall and 2-3 in Atlantic Sun play. The Ospreys have won six of their last seven after starting the season 1-7. It was the first true road win of the year for UNF. The loss dropped FGCU to 5-9 and 2-3 in league play.
The Ospreys have played 11 of their first 15 games on the road and will remain on the road to take on Stetson on Sunday, Jan. 10, at 2 p.m. The Stetson 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 on www.ASun.TV.
The Ospreys led by eight at halftime, 31-23, and grew their lead to 11 at 38-27 with 16:23 left in the game. But Florida Gulf Coast made a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 38-36 at the 14:19 mark. The Eagles continued to put pressure on UNF, cutting the lead to one point on three different occasions but never tying the score or taking the lead.
Haugabrook led three UNF players in double figures with a team-high 14 points. Freshman guard Jerron Granberry added 12, including nine in the second half, and senior guard Stan Januska also scored 12. Haugabrook led the team with four assists and also had four rebounds. Granberry led UNF with five rebounds.
North Florida shot 40.0 percent (20-50) from the field for the game, while FGCU shot 44.0 percent (22-50). The Ospreys shot 38.1 percent (8-21) from behind the arc and 56.0 percent (14-25) from the free throw line. The Eagles did not make a 3-pointer, going 0-10 in the game, and shot 60.0 percent (12-20) from the line.
Reed Baker led FGCU with 15 points and Anthony Banks had 14 points and nine rebounds.
Florida Gulf Coast jumped out to a 7-5 lead with 14:13 left in the first half before UNF made a run. Senior guard Eni Cuka nailed a 3-pointer at the 12:22 mark to put the Ospreys up 8-7 and they led for the rest of the first half taking a 31-23 advantage into the break. The Cuka 3-pointer started a 19-6 run for North Florida as it stretched its largest lead of the half to 11 with 6:38 left in the half.
Cuka led UNF with nine points at the half and senior guard Stan Januska added eight as the Ospreys shot 47.6 percent from the field in the first half. The North Florida defense held the Eagles to just 38.5 percent shooting in the first stanza.
After Stetson the Ospreys will return home to UNF Arena to take on Belmont on Thursday, Jan. 14, at 7:45 p.m. and Lipscomb on Saturday, Jan. 16, 7 p.m. Both games are double-headers with the UNF women's team.
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.
