Ospreys Best Bethune-Cookman, 61-56

Tuesday, November 29

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 pm

University of North Florida

4-4

Bethune-Cookman

2-5

Bethune-Cookman

North Florida

Photo by: Todd Drexler

11/29/2011 11:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Final Boxscore (pdf)
Game Book
Postgame Interview

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Parker Smith scored 15 points and the North Florida basketball team scored the final six points of the game to defeat Bethune-Cookman 61-56 Tuesday night at UNF Arena.

UNF (4-4) held the Wildcats (2-5) scoreless over the final 3:26 of the game to earn their fifth consecutive home win. All six of the Ospreys final points came from the free-throw line, with Smith connecting on the final four.

“We have to win these kinds of games,” said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. “We struggled at times tonight but down the stretch we made the plays and got defensive stops that we needed. Turnovers were a problem for us tonight. I thought we did a great job of gang rebounding. The best thing is that we found a way to get another home win.”

Bethune-Cookman blazed out of the gates shooting 72 percent (8-of-11) from the floor in the opening eight minutes to build an 18-13 advantage. The Ospreys responded with an 11-3 run over the next six minutes to take the lead. During the span, the Wildcats made just one of nine shot attempts from the field.

The Ospreys built a six-point lead late in the opening half before BCU scored the final five points to trim the UNF halftime lead to a single point, 30-29.

An early 9-0 spurt in the second half pushed UNF to its largest lead of the night, 41-33, with 15:49 left in the game. The Wildcats then got six points from Garrius Holloman and five from Kevin Dukes in a 12-3 run to retake a 45-44 lead with 10:45 remaining.

A pair of free throws for Charles McRoy put the Ospreys back in front where they stayed until a lay-up by Holloman at the 3:26 mark gave Bethune-Cookman a one-point lead, 56-55.

UNF turned up its defense from that point, forcing six missed Wildcat shots and three turnovers while keeping BCU out of the scoring column.

North Florida committed 21 turnovers on the night but forced 18 by the Wildcats and also claimed a 40-30 rebounding advantage.

Andy Diaz added 13 points and nine rebounds while Jerron Granberry chipped in 12 points for the Ospreys.

Holloman led all scorers with 24 for the Wildcats.

North Florida concludes its four-game home stand Saturday against crosstown rival Jacksonville at 12 p.m. in UNF Arena. The game will be televised live on Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS).