FGCU Outruns Ospreys, 89-74

Thursday, January 31

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 pm

University of North Florida

8-15, 3-7ASun

Florida Gulf Coast

15-8, 7-3ASun

Florida Gulf Coast

North Florida

Photo by: Todd Drexler

1/31/2013 10:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Final Boxscore (pdf)
Game Book

JACKSONVILLE -- The North Florida basketball team had four players in double figures, shot 50 percent from the field and got 40 points in the paint but were not able to snap their current skid dropping an 89-75 decision to Florida Gulf Coast at UNF Arena on Thursday night.

The Ospreys (8-15, 3-7 ASun) battled head-to-head with the conference leading Eagles (15-8, 7-3) for much of the contest but a four-minute defensive lapse proved the difference in the final score.

Parker Smith continued his strong senior season finishing with 20 points including four three-pointers. Smith has now tallied 20+ in 10 games this season. Travis Wallace added 14 for the Ospreys with BaeBae Daniels matching his career high with 12 and Andy Diaz chipping in 11.

FGCU placed five players in double figures led by 22 from Chase Fieler and 19 by Sherwood Brown including 17 in the second half.

"It's a disappointing loss in the fact that we did enough offensively to win the game," said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. "The first half was back-and-forth and it continued the same way early in the second half. We just had a short span where we missed a few shots and also committed some turnovers that allowed them to grab the momentum. We say the same thing every game and I hope that we can learn that in order for us to win games we have to get stops on the defensive end for 40 minutes. Our staff is committed to looking at every option and finding a way for this team to get that done."

After falling behind early, 12-7, on some hot shooting by the Eagles, the Ospreys continued to chip away at the deficit and eventually evened the score at 22-22 on a basket by Smith. FGCU would edge back in front of the next several minutes only to see UNF battled back and earn its first lead, 35-34, behind back-to-back treys from Smith with 2:04 left in the period.

The game was tied at 40 thanks to a tip-in at the buzzer by UNF's Charles McRoy. The Ospreys shot 55 percent from the floor in the first half while FGCU finished at 48 percent including six treys.

North Florida held a slight lead for the opening minutes of play in the second half behind solid defense. The Eagles scored eight straight points to retake the lead, 58-53, but a basket by David Jeune and two free throws from Wallace closed the margin to one with 11:11 on the clock.

Unfortunately, Florida Gulf Coast would outscore UNF, 13-4, over the next four minutes capitalizing on several missed shots and three turnovers to gain control of the contest. The two squads traded baskets for the closing six minutes of play with the Ospreys unable to mount a closing charge.

For the game, FGCU finished with 12 three-pointers and scored 19 points off of 17 Osprey miscues.

North Florida has a quick turnaround in this brief two-game home stand as Stetson visits UNF Arena on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. As part of a promotion for the game, the UNF Basketball team is collecting new stuffed animals at the door to donate for the children at the Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless.