JU Slips Past Ospreys at Buzzer, 70-68

Friday, February 15

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 pm

University of North Florida

10-17, 5-8ASun

Jacksonville (CSS/ESPN3)

13-14, 8-6ASun

North Florida

Jacksonville

Photo by: Todd Drexler

2/15/2013 10:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Boxscore (pdf)
Game Book

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- In true crosstown rivalry form, the second game in the River City Rumble came down to the last shot as Parker Smith's three-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out giving Jacksonville a 70-68 victory on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Arena.

The Ospreys (10-17, 5-9 ASun) rallied from seven points down in the second half to set up a chance for the game winning shot in the closing seconds. With the win, JU (13-14, 8-6) snapped a three-game losing skid and earned the regular season sweep over UNF.

For the fourth time in the last seven meetings between the two teams, the game was decided on the final possession and for the second time in their last three visits to Memorial Arena, UNF had a game-winning shot at the buzzer just bounce out.

Smith led all scorers with 22 points and connected on four treys in the game while also pulling down seven rebounds. Senior Will Wilson scored a career best 13 points and also handed out nine assists just missing a double-double. It marked the first double-digit scoring total in Wilson's career. Travis Wallace also reached double figures finishing with 13 points.

JU was led by 19 points and nine rebounds from Jarvis Haywood and 16 points, including three treys, for Keith McDougald.

"This was an extremely hard fought game and a loss that really stings, especially for the seniors," said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. "It was another great college basketball game in this series. I thought both teams made some big plays, but they were just able to make those key shots down the stretch that proved to be the difference. I was proud of the effort and fight our guys played with to come back in the second half and have an opportunity to win the game."

Wilson got the Ospreys going by scoring the first five UNF points and helping the team to an early advantage. North Florida would lead by as many as six, 23-17, before 10 straight points from the Dolphins saw them move in front. UNF closed the first half on a 7-1 spurt over the final three minutes to hold a 32-30 lead at the break.

Kordario Fleming scored the first seven points of the second half for JU allowing the Dolphins to grab the momentum. Jacksonville would keep the lead and move ahead by seven, 55-48, 10:04 remaining in the contest. With just under eight minutes left, David Jeune made a pair of free throws sparking a 9-0 spurt by the Ospreys capped by back-to-back treys by Ray Rodriguez and Smith.

The run put the Ospreys back in front by three with 5:45 to play. McDougald then connected on two straight three-pointers allowing JU to regain the lead. Wilson answered with his second trey of the game to knot the score at 65 followed by another Smith trey giving UNF a slim 68-65 margin with 2:33 left.

JU fought back behind baskets from Glenn Powell and Fleming and added a McDougald free throw with 10 seconds left to set up the final UNF possession. The Ospreys raced the ball into the front court setting up Smith for a shot that was online but clipped the back of the rim and bounced away allowing the Dolphins to escape with the win.

North Florida has nearly a week off before hosting the final home games of the 2012-13 season. The Ospreys face rival ETSU on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in UNF Arena