UNF Closes 2011 with Win Over Palm Beach Atlantic

Friday, December 30

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 pm

University of North Florida

7-7

Palm Beach Atlantic

3-10

Palm Beach Atlantic

North Florida

Photo by: Todd Drexler

12/30/2011 9:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Boxscore (PDF)
Game Book

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Parker Smith scored 23 points including five-three pointers and Jerron Granberry added four treys as North Florida rallied in the second half for an 85-78 victory Friday night over Palm Beach Atlantic at UNF Arena.

With the win, the Ospreys (7-7) finished their non-conference schedule at .500 and extend their current home win streak to seven games. The Sailfish (3-10), who were playing in their third game in three days, gave UNF all they wanted but came up a little short despite getting 22 points from Terrell Terry.

“I was proud of how we fought tonight,” said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. “I thought the guys did a great job of getting the ball to the open people down the stretch and then those guys made big plays. I felt like Palm Beach played extremely well and made some big shots of their own. In the second half, we came out and played like we needed to in order to get the victory. I liked the perseverance we showed during the late charge.”

The Ospreys got things going early including a high-flying dunk by Charles McRoy on the opening possession. UNF held a lead through the first 15 minutes of action and were in front by as many as 10 points, 26-16, at the 8:22 mark following a layup by Will Wilson that capped an 8-0 spurt.

Palm Beach answered by scoring the next 12 points to grab their first lead, 28-26, with 5:30 left in the half. The two squads traded the lead a couple times before a late seven-point spurt by the Sailfish allowed them to carry a 41-35 lead into the halftime break.

PBA extended its lead to eight points early in the second half, but UNF tallied eight straight points including four from Granberry to even the score at 47 with 15:35 left to play. The game went back-and-forth over the next eight minutes with neither team holding larger than a two point advantage.

After watching the Sailfish move in front by five, Smith accounted for seven consecutive points for UNF allowing the Ospreys to regain the lead at 70-68 with 5:31 remaining. PBA evened the score and then retook the lead by a bucket.

Matt Sauey slammed home a follow up to knot the score a 72 and then Granberry dropped in back-to-back three-pointers to put the Ospreys up for good. UNF hit its free throws down the stretch making 7 of 10 in the closing minutes including four by Smith.

In addition to Smith and Granberry, UNF also got 13 points from Andy Diaz, who shared team rebounding honors with Sauey and Travis Wallace after pulling down six boards. Jimmy Williams handed out six assists in leading UNF to 18 helpers for the game.

With the non-conference schedule complete, North Florida now turns its attention to Atlantic Sun Conference play in the New Year welcoming defending conference champion Belmont on Monday night in UNF Arena at 7:45 p.m.