University of North Florida
13-18,10-10ASun
Florida Gulf Coast
9-20, 6-13ASun
Ospreys Soar Past Eagles in Season Finale, 53-51
2/26/2011 9:52:50 PM | Men's Basketball
Final Boxscore
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The University of North Florida men's basketball team rallied from an eight-point deficit in the second half to earn a thrilling 53-51 victory over Florida Gulf Coast in the regular season finale Saturday night in Alico Arena.
The victory was an historic one for the Ospreys (13-18, 10-10 A-Sun), who not only matched their win total from last season but also upped their program record for season A-Sun victories to 10. In addition, UNF finishes at .500 in league play for the first time in the program's Division I Era.
FGCU (9-20, 6-13) saw its three-game win streak snapped with the loss.
Parker Smith led the way for UNF finishing with 19 points, including 13 in the first half, and four three-pointers. David Jeune and Matt Sauey both scored eight points while Jimmy Williams added six points and a game high 11 rebounds.
Kevin Cantinol led a trio of Gulf Coast players in double digits scoring 12 points.
“I am really, really proud of these guys,” said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll, “We came out very flat in the first half but I thought we played with some urgency in the second half and found a way to finish strong. We've had different guys step up all season long and I thought tonight Matt (Sauey) and Charles (McRoy) were huge for us.”
North Florida struggled on the offensive end to start the game mustering just four points in the first 10 minutes of the contest. The Ospreys, who hit just two of their first 12 shots, trailed 11-4 with just over nine minutes remaining and suffered through an eight minute scoring drought.
Smith finally got the UNF offense going hitting back-to-back three-pointers to trim the deficit to just one, 11-10, with 8:42 on the clock. The game remained close with the Eagles maintaining a slight lead for much of the half.
Matt Sauey hit a short jumper and Smith drilled his third trey of the half at the 2:44 mark giving the Ospreys their first lead of the game, 20-17. However, it was a short-lived one as FGCU closed the half on a 9-2 run and took a 26-22 lead into break.
Both teams played strong defense in the first half. UNF shot just 31 percent from the floor during the opening 20 minutes while limiting Gulf Coast to just 33 percent shooting and a 1-for-9 performance from beyond the arc.
Coming out of the half, UNF committed five turnovers in the first four minutes. The Eagles were able to capitalize on the Osprey's offensive difficulties widening their lead to 34-26 with 15:17 left to play in the game.
North Florida would turn things up themselves on defense during a 14-2 run that saw the Ospreys recapture the lead 43-38 with 6:55 remaining in the game. UNF would keep the lead until a pair of free throws by Sherwood Brown at the 1:33 mark gave the Eagles a one-point edge.
The Ospreys answered on their next possession when Jerron Granberry found Sauey under the basket for a lay-up and a 52-51 lead with one minute left. Smith made a free throw with 14 seconds remaining to up the UNF lead to two setting up a final chance for FGCU.
After a timeout, FGCU first shot attempt was blocked out of bounds by Andy Diaz with only one second on the clock and their final try did not give off in time allowing the Ospreys to claim the historic victory.
The Ospreys now turn their attention to postseason play at the General Shale Brick A-Sun Conference Tournament in Macon, Ga., on Mar. 2-5. UNF, the No. 6 seed, will face cross-town rival Jacksonville (No. 3 seed) at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 3.
