Sluggish Offense Hinders #MBB in Loss at USC Upstate

Saturday, January 25

Spartanburg, S.C.

2 pm

University of North Florida

11-11, 5-4

USC Upstate

11-10, 4-4

North Florida

USC Upstate

Photo by: Todd Drexler

1/25/2014 4:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Final Boxscore (pdf)
Game Book

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The North Florida basketball team was unable to overcome a slow start in dropping a 71-60 decision at USC Upstate on Saturday afternoon in Atlantic Sun Conference play.

The Ospreys (11-11, 5-4 ASun) committed 10 turnovers and made just six baskets in the first half as USC Upstate (11-10, 4-4) opened up a double digit lead and fended off any UNF rally attempts. The two squads played an evenly scored second half.

Dallas Moore finished with 18 points including four three-pointers to lead the Ospreys. Jalen Nesbitt, a native of Inman, S.C,, added 12 points in a homecoming of sorts for him.

Ricardo Glenn posted a 16 point, 11 rebound double-double to pace the Spartans, who also got 16 from Ty Greene and 15 by ASun Player of the Year Torrey Craig.

"Road games in conference are always challenging," said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. "I thought our guys, especially our reserves, showed good fight and resilience. I thought we allowed too many second chance points in the game and had some costly turnovers in the first half. We also weren't able to get the stops we needed at crucial times. Give Upstate credit for really setting the tone early. Fortunately, we head home for our next two games and we just have to get back to doing the things that we do."

After back-and-forth play through the opening 10 minutes of play, the Spartans siezed the momentum with a 13-2 surge that put them in front 23-10 with seven minutes left in the half. The Ospreys would answer with an 11-5 run of their own beginning with a pair of free throws by Nesbitt followed by a Moore three-pointer, a layup from Demarcus Daniels and a four consecutive free throws from Nesbitt and Moore.

USC Upstate scored six straight points to regain a double figure advantage and held a 36-25 lead at halftime. The Ospreys were just 6-25 (24 percent) in the first half while Upstate connected at a 50 percent clip (15-30). The Spartans also held a 26-6 advantage for points in the paint.

A 13-5 flurry to start the second half provided USC Upstate its largest lead of the game, 49-30, through five minutes of play. The margin would remain double digits for most of the remainder of the game. However, a 10-1 spurt by the Ospreys midway through the period did trim the margin to single digits, 54-45, with 9:25 left.

The squads would trade baskets the rest of the contest as the Spartans made free throws in the closing minutes to secure the victory.

North Florida begins the second half of their Atlantic Sun schedule at home against Northern Kentucky on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. UNF is 8-2 at home this season.