Ospreys Soar Past Savannah State for 62-57 Win

Monday, November 14

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 pm

University of North Florida

1-1

Savannah State

0-2

Savannah State

North Florida

11/14/2011 9:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Final Boxscore (pdf)
Game Book

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The North Florida basketball team mounted a second-half charge on their way to a 62-57 victory over Savannah State in the team's home opener Monday at UNF Arena.

Andy Diaz led the way for UNF (1-1) scoring 15 of his team leading 16 points in the second half while Jimmy Williams added 12 and Jerron Granberry finished with 10.

Savannah State (0-2) got a game-high 17 points from Rashad Hassan and 12 rebounds by Arnold Louis.

North Florida now leads the all-time series against Savannah State, 7-6, with the home team winning every meeting between the two programs.

The Ospreys built an early 12-5 advantage behind a 9-2 surge. UNF then slipped into an eight-minute scoring drought as the Tigers scored 10 straight points to roar into the lead. SSU led by as many as four points before watching North Florida score seven of the final 10 points to knot the score 21-21 at the half. Williams capped the UNF rally by hitting a half-court shot at the buzzer.

Diaz scored UNF's first three baskets out of the break as the two squads traded points. Another 10-point run by Savannah State allowed the Tigers to take an eight-point lead, 35-27, with 13:46 left in the game.

SSU led 50-44 with just over six minutes remaining when the Ospreys began to make their rally. Granberry hit a free throw followed by a three-pointer to trim the deficit to just two points. With 3:27 showing on the clock, Granberry connected on a pair of free throws allowing UNF to retake the lead, 52-51.

A pair of buckets by Diaz put UNF up by five as Savannah State got no closer than two the rest of the way.

For the game, UNF finished with 11 steals and forced 23 turnovers by the Tigers, who won the battle on the glass, 38-27. The Ospreys shot 47 percent from the field on the night including a blistering 14-20 (70 percent) in the closing half.

North Florida plays its next three games on the road beginning Thursday at 8 p.m. against No. 7 Florida. UNF will also visit Miami (Nov. 19) and No. 3 Ohio State (Nov. 21).