Ospreys Fall Short at Portland

Wednesday, December 19

Portland, Ore.

7 pm (PT)

University of North Florida

3-8

Portland

6-6

North Florida

Portland

12/20/2012 12:23:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Boxscore (pdf)
Game Book

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Travis Wallace scored a near career high 27 points including 18 in the second half but it wasn't enough as the North Florida basketball team's second half rally came up short in a tough 74-64 loss Wednesday night at Portland.

Wallace connected on 11 of 17 field goal attempts and pulled down seven rebounds in leading the Ospreys (3-8), who dropped their fourth consecutive game. Portland improved to 6-6 after claiming their third conscecutive victory.

Andy Diaz, playing in just his third game back from injury finished with eight points and five rebounds while David Jeune hauled in a season best eight rebounds. Will Wilson handed out eight assists while committing just one turnover on the night.

Kevin Bailey led the Pilots on offense matching Wallace with 27 points for game high honors. Riley Barker chipped in 16 points for Portland.

"This game was disappointing because we had opportunities that we let slip away," said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. "I was proud of how we battled to get close several times but we just weren't able to make the one or two plays to get over the hump. I thought the post players, especially Travis and Andy, played with a tremendous amount of energy and that helped us. I have to give Portland credit for finding ways to get to the free throw line and converting when they got there. We have to find ways of playing defense without fouling. We have to get back to work and be ready to go this weekend in Vegas."

The Pilots built a quick early lead, pushing in front by double digits, 15-5, just over five minutes into the game. The Ospreys answered with an 8-0 run of its own to trim the deficit to just three points. The two squads traded baskets over the closing minutes of the first half as UP carried a 33-27 advantage into the halftime break.

Portland pushed their lead back to double digits at the start of the second half before watching the Ospreys again make a charge. A basket by Wallace with 13:04 left in the contest pulled UNF within a point, 43-42. Bailey responded for UP hitting a three-pointer on the next possession and North Florida would get no closer the rest of the game.

For the game, Portland made 27 of 37 free throws while UNF attempted just 18 in the game. Of the 24 fouls whistled against the Ospreys, 20 earned the Pilots free throw attempts. The taller UP squad also posted a 38-29 edge in rebounding while UNF finished with 16 assists and forced 13 Portland turnovers.

Action in the Continental Tires Classic now heads to Las Vegas with North Florida opening their play at the Orleans Arena Saturday against CSU Bakersfield at 2:30 pm (PT)/5:30 pm (ET).