#MBB Falls to Hot-Shooting No. 7 Ohio State

Friday, November 29

Columbus, Ohio

5 pm

University of North Florida

4-4

Ohio State (#7)

6-0

North Florida

Ohio State

Photo by: Bill Pearce - wlpearce.com

11/29/2013 8:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Final Boxscore (pdf)
Game Book

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Overcoming frigid temperatures outside, the North Florida basketball team wasn't as fortunate inside the Value City Arena as No. 7 Ohio State shot a sizzling 69.2 percent from the floor for the game in posting a 99-64 victory on Friday evening.

The Ospreys (4-4) saw their three game win streak halted as the Buckeye (6-0) remained undefeated following their best shooting performance of the season. OSU finished the game 36-of-52 including making 14-of-23 (60.9 percent) from beyond the three-point line. UNF connected on nine treys for the game but were hampered by 18 turnovers.

Freshman Dallas Moore and sophomore Beau Beech both scored 14 points to lead the Osprey offense. Moore was a perfect 4-of-4 from long distance while Beech finished with three treys. Senior Charles McRoy joined the duo in double digits finishing with 11 points along with team leading totals in rebounds (6) and assists (4).

Five different Buckeyes notched double figures led by 18 points from Amir Williams. LaQuinton Ross and Amedeo Della Valle each added 17 including making five and four three-pointers, respectively.

The two squads both opened the game clicking on offense as North Florida held a 6-5 advantage after the team's traded buckets on the first several possessions. The Ospreys would go scoreless over the next seven minutes while the Buckeyes connected on 10 of their first 11 shots in building a 24-6 advantage with 12 minutes left in the opening half.

UNF settled down and utlilized a 14-4 surge of their own to close the deficit to 28-20 following back-to-back treys by Beech. The Ospreys would get no closer though as OSU answered with a 20-9 run to close the half capped by a three-pointer from Della Valle at the buzzer for a 48-29 lead.

"Both teams shot the ball well to start the game but we were unable to sustain on our side," said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. "To their credit, they were effective with their offense and made a bunch of shots. I was proud of how we battled back, but felt like when they raised their level to answer our run, we just weren't able to raise our level another notch. I'm not sure why that was but it just didn't happen. They are a very good team and we have just got to learn and grow from this experience."

A quick 11-2 spurt to open the second half by Ohio State pushed aside any opportunity for a rally by the Ospreys, as the Buckeyes were content to trade baskets for the remainder of the contest. Neither team would score more than six points in a row over the final 15 minutes of play as OSU claimed the final margin.

North Florida returns home for their next game hosting in-town foe Edward Waters at 7 p.m. Monday in UNF Arena. The game is the Ospreys lone home contest before final exams with UNF slated to visit Alabama (Dec. 4) and Indiana (Dec. 7).