Basketball Falls Short at Upstate, 63-57

Thursday, January 24

Spartanburg, S.C.

7 pm

University of North Florida

-813, 35 ASun

USC Upstate (ESPN3)

-1010, 43 ASun

North Florida

USC Upstate

1/24/2013 9:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Final Boxscore (pdf)
Game Book

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- In a back and forth contest, the North Florida basketball team came out on the short end in a 63-57 road loss at USC Upstate on Thursday night at the Hodge Center.

The Ospreys (8-13, 3-5 ASun) had several opportunities and even closed the gap to four points in the final minute before the Spartans (10-10, 4-3) made a few late free throws to secure the win.

Freshman Beau Beech led the way for UNF finishing with 15 points including 10 in the first half. Parker Smith and Andy Diaz each finished with 10 for the Ospreys.

Ricardo Glenn paced the Upstate attack with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Atlantic Sun Player of the Year Torrey Craig added 12 points for the Spartans, who earned their first home conference win of the year.

"It was a tough battle tonight and we just weren't able to convert on some of our chances," said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. "We did some good things but at time were too casual with the ball and that hurt us because in league games every possession is important and valuable. At this point in our schedule we have got to get some wins. We just have to get back in the gym and find a way to make some plays."

The first half was very competitive with the two squads swapping the lead nine times and knotting the score an additional five times. The opening 20 minutes also included several scoring spurts. The Spartans maked the first move using a 9-2 run to build an early advantage. UNF answered with the next nine points to grab its largest lead, 13-9.

Over the next five minutes, neither team would lead by more than two points until a 9-0 spurt by Upstate put them in front, 35-26, with 3:40 remaining in the period. The Ospreys turned up the defense holding the Spartans scoreless the remainder of the half while scoring seven points of their own to trim the halftime deficit to two points, 35-33.

The Spartans expanded their lead to double digits midway through the second half but UNF refused to quit keeping within striking distance with solid rebounding and defense. Trailing by 10, 57-47, with 11:21 left, North Florida chipped away at the deficit and eventually pulled within four, 58-54, with 2:19 following a trey by Smith.

The Ospreys took a couple shots in the closing minutes to trim the margin even more but were unable to get the key shot to fall. The Spartans struggled at the free throw line in the final minute but made just enough to hold off a late UNF rally.

North Florida continues its weekend road trip Saturday in Johnson City, Tenn., when the team visits ETSU at 4 p.m. The Ospreys will be looking to make program history by claiming their first win on the Bucs home floor.