ETSU Outlasts #MBB in 99-93 Loss

Thursday, January 23

Johnson City, Tenn.

7 pm

University of North Florida

-1110, 53 ASun

ETSU

-1010, 34 ASun

North Florida

ETSU

Photo by: Todd Drexler

1/23/2014 9:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Final Boxscore (pdf)
Game Book

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- Despite scoring 93 points including a career best 28 by Beau Beech, the North Florida basketball team was unable to shake its curse in the MSHA Athletic Center, falling 99-93 to East Tennessee State on Thursday night.

The Ospreys (11-10, 5-3 ASun) saw a two-game win streak snapped as the Bucs (10-10, 3-4) converted on 32 of 33 free throws including a perfect 21-21 in the second half to remain undefeated (9-0) against UNF all-time in Johnson City.

Beech drilled a career best eight three-pointers en route to his first career 20+ performance. He led a group of five UNF players in double digits that also included career best performance by Jalen Nesbitt (17 points) along with 15 from Chris Davenport, 11 by Travis Wallace and 10 for Demarcus Daniels.

ETSU saw a pair of players top 20 points led by 24 from Hunter Harris including 18 in the first half. Rashawn Rembert went 12-12 from free throw line en route to 22 points while K. Gadsden-Gilliard added 19 and Jalen Riley chipped in 18.

"Our guys kept competing but it is definitely disappointing to score 93 points and lose the game," said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. "For games on the road, especially in conference play, you have to be able to compete at an even higher level. Give them credit because they had some guys make plays tonight that they haven't made this season. We just have to get back to work and regain our sense of urgency, most importantly on the defensive end."

The Ospreys held a lead for much of the first half as both teams struggled early to get into an offensive flow. Beech connected on the second of his five first half three-pointers with 10:43 left in the period to give UNF it's largest lead of six points, 19-13. The Bucs battled back and grabbed the lead 26-24 before Beech answered with back-to-back treys.

UNF kept control of the tempo over the remainder of the half and carried a 43-41 advantage into the halftime break. Beech was a perfect 5-5 from arc during the stanza while ETSU responded with a 7-12 performance from the floor by Harris.

The lead got traded back and forth over the first 12 minutes of the second half before ETSU capitalized on a couple UNF miscues and untimely fouls for a 16-2 run that put the Bucs in front 83-70 with 5:27 left. The Ospreys continued to battle and were able to get some late three-pointers, but East Tennessee converted 14 consecutive free throws to maintain an advantage.

For the game, the lead changed 16 times and was tied 13 more times.

North Florida continues its road trip Saturday with a game at USC Upstate at 2 p.m.