Sluggish Play Hinders #MBB in Loss at Alabama

Wednesday, December 4

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

7 pm (CT)

University of North Florida

Alabama

12/4/2013 11:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

(Photo Courtesy: UA Athletic Photgraphy)
Final Boxscore (pdf)
Game Book

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Slow starts in both halves proved costly for the North Florida basketball team Wednesday night in a 76-48 road loss to Alabama at Coleman Coliseum.

The Ospreys (5-5) fell behind 11-0 to open the game before playing even the remainder of the first half against a Crimson Tide (4-3) squad that remained undefeated at home with a fourth consecutive win.

All 11 UNF players scored a point but the Ospreys had no players in double figures as Charles McRoy and Devin Wilson paced the team scoring eight points each.

Alabama saw four of its five starters reach double figures led by 20 from Levi Randolph.

"For some reason teams have gotten fast starts against us but our guys have been resilient and battled back all season," said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. "Against teams of this level our margin of error is very small and tonight we struggled at times to take care of the little things that make a big difference. I thought we settled down late in the first half but stumbled early in the second half and our little mistakes just seemed to snowball. Give Alabama credit for being able to speed us up at times and create some turnovers that they converted to easy baskets. We just have to continue to stay focused and work hard."

The Tide scored the first 11 points of the game as UNF's first points didn't come until Charles McRoy hit a jumper at the 16:39 mark of the opening period. Bama maintained a double-digit advantage for much of the half and carried a 36-23 lead into the halftime break.

An 11-2 spurt to open the second half by Alabama moved the momentum away from the Ospreys, who trailed by 20 or more for most of the second half.

For the game, North Florida shot 31 percent from the floor including a 27 percent performance in the second half. The Ospreys also struggled from the free throw line making just 7 of 16 attempts (44 percent). Alabama tallied 32 points in the paint and also forced 15 turnovers turning that into 13 points. The Tide also earned a 45-37 advantage in rebounding.

North Florida concludes its busy week of three games in six days as the Ospreys travel to Bloomington, Ind., to play at Indiana on Saturday night.