Ospreys Fall at Pitt

Saturday, December 8

Pittsburgh, Pa.

7 pm

University of North Florida

(3-6)

Pittsburgh (ESPN3)

(9-1)

North Florida

Pittsburgh

12/8/2012 9:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Boxscore (pdf)
Final Book

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A strong second half surge proved costly to the North Florida basketball team as Pittsburgh handed UNF a disappointing 89-47 loss Saturday night at the Peterson Events Center.

The Ospreys (3-6) made nine three-pointers in the game and limited the Panthers (9-1) to only 13 offensive rebounds but nine turnovers and a 62 percent shooting performance by Pitt in the closing 20 minutes were the difference in the game.

Junior Travis Wallace and senior David Jeune each netted 10 points to lead the Ospreys. For Wallace it marked his sixth consecutive double-digit performance. UNF leading scorer Parker Smith was held to just five points including a 1-for-6 performance from the three-point arc.

Pitt placed five players in double figures led by 16 for Dante Taylor. The Panthers, who lead the nation in assists, finished with 21 assists on 33 baskets in the contest.

“It was a tough game to watch for me,” said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. “I can't put my finger on what hurt us or why we played with very little aggressiveness. We just have to get back to work and make the adjustments needed to get better. I have confidence that we well do that this week.”

The Panthers raced out to an early 13-5 lead to start the game and pushed their advantage to double-digits 21-10 midway through the first half. The Ospreys rallied using a 17-6 surge to eventually tie the score at 27-27 with 5:37 left in the period.

Pitt responded by closing the half on a 14-3 run including 12 straight points as UNF struggled through a four minute scoring drought. The Panthers held a 41-30 halftime lead.

The Ospreys drought continued at the start of the second half as Pitt outscored UNF, 15-5, through the first five minutes of play and never looked back. The Panthers maintained a comfortable lead the remainder of the game en route to the final margin.

For the game, Pitt shot 59 percent from the floor (33-56) and also made 21-of-25 free throws. The Ospreys did not attempt a free throw in the game with the Panthers whistled for just 10 total fouls on the night.

North Florida has a week off from competition before visiting Colorado State on Dec. 17 as part of the Continental Tires Las Vegas Classic. The game at CSU tips off a four-game in nine day stretch that culminates with a pair of games in Las Vegas on Dec. 22-23.