Dolphins Escape with 77-68 Win Over Ospreys

Friday, January 18

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 pm

University of North Florida

8-12, 3-4ASUN

Jacksonville (CSS/ESPN3)

10-10, 5-2ASUN

Jacksonville

North Florida

Photo by: Todd Drexler

1/18/2013 10:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Boxscore (pdf)
Game Book

JACKSONVILLE -- In front of a record attendance at UNF Arena, the North Florida basketball team saw their three-game win streak over crosstown rival Jacksonville snapped Friday night in a tough 77-68 loss.

In true rivalry fashion, the game was tied 11 times and featured five lead changes with neither squad holding larger than a five-point edge until the closing minute when the Dolphins made several free throws to earn the final margin. The raucous crowd of 4,018 were treated to some hot shooting from both teams as UNF (8-12, 3-4 ASun) and JU (10-10, 5-2) both finished the game at 50 percent shooting.

Parker Smith led the way for the Ospreys scoring 19 points including four three pointers. Travis Wallace added 13 points and a team best six rebounds. Will Wilson collected his league leading fifth double-digit assist total finishing with 11 on the night. Wilson along with Charles McRoy and BaeBae Daniels each scored eight points in the contest.

Javon Dawson finished with 17 points to pace the Dolphins who also got a 14-point, eight-rebound effort from Glenn Powell and 14 points by Keith McDougald.

"It is a disappointing loss because we just weren't able to get the stops when we needed them," said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. "These games always come down to rebounding and free throws and it was the same tonight. Give them credit for being more aggressive and getting to the line and converting their offensive rebounds. We had opportunities and made some big plays but couldn't follow them up with defensive stops. We have got to continue getting better and find a way to continue improving."

After trading baskets over the early minutes, North Florida made the first push using a 7-2 spurt to build an 11-6 lead. JU rallied and eventually evened the score at 13 before earning their first lead of the night after a 9-2 surge of their own. The Dolphins would stretch their edge to 22-17 only to watch UNF rally behind an 11-point flurry from Smith that helped send the game into the halftime break knotted at 31.

Both teams held leads early in the second half. With the Ospreys trailing by three, McRoy scored a pair of baskets in an 8-0 run giving UNF a five-point lead, 48-43, with 13:35 remaining. Jacksonville would trim the margin and eventually grab the lead for good, 59-56, with 7:29 to play.

The Ospreys would pull within one point several times including once, 67-66, at the 3:13 mark following a second consecutive trey by Daniels. JU got a layup on their next possession to extend lead back to three before Wilson go a layup to make the score 69-68, with 2:37 left. However, that would be the last points for UNF.

On the next JU possession, Powell connected on a hook shot with just two seconds left on the shot clock. The the Dolphins converted six free throws over the closing minutes to secure the win.

For the game, JU made 22 of 27 free throws compared to just 8-for-12 for the Ospreys. The Dolphins also scored baskets on eight of their nine offensive rebounds. UNF finished with 15 assists to just four for JU while both teams committed 12 turnovers.

North Florida now has almost a week off before returning to action on the road at USC Upstate on Jan. 24.