Balanced Play Lands #MBB Another Cancun Challenge Title

Wednesday, November 26

Cancun, Mexico

4:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

3-3

Elon

2-3

North Florida

Elon

Photo by: Carrie Driscoll

11/26/2014 7:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Final Boxscore (pdf)
Game Book

CANCUN, Mexico -- The North Florida basketball team made history Wednesday afternoon becoming the first two-time champion at the Triple Crown Sports' Cancun Challenge after topping Elon, 72-65, in the Mayan Division title game at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya.

The Ospreys (3-3) and Phoenix (2-3) each took turns with the lead in the second half until a closing 12-3 run by UNF over the final four minutes allowed the team to claim its fourth non-conference neutral site tournament championship under sixth-year head coach Matthew Driscoll.

Sophomore Dallas Moore finished with a game high 21 points and six rebounds en route to garnering tournament MVP accolades, while junior teammate Demarcus Daniels had nine points, five rebounds and a career-best six blocked shots against Elon to join Moore on the All-Tournament squad.

"The guys never quit and we made the plays that needed to be made in order to win this championship," said Driscoll, who improved to 9-0 at UNF in non-conference neutral site games. "I am extremely proud of this group for again demonstrating great resiliency throughout the game. Our guys did a great job of getting rested and prepared for the quick turnaround between games in the tournament and were ready to play from the tip. I've said it many times already this year, this is a special group and we are really good when we play our game."

The two teams traded baskets for much of the opening seven minutes of play until a 16-4 run midway through the period allowed the Ospreys to earn a 25-15 lead with 7:45 to play. UNF would maintain a multi-possession advantage for much of the remainder of the half, but a late surge capped by a three-pointer at the buzzer from Luke Eddy trimmed the Osprey halftime lead to just three points, 33-30.

The Phoenix scored 13 of the first 18 points to start the second half, building their largest lead of the game at 43-38 with 15:37 left on the clock. Moore than sparked an 11-1 UNF rally allowing the Ospreys to grab a five-point advantage, 49-44, less than four minutes later. Moore scored six points in the run that also included baskets from Daniels and Chris Davenport as well as a free throw by Trent Mackey.

Elon would answer with back-to-back treys to grab their final lead of the night, 52-51, with 9:44 remaining. Jalen Nesbitt would score the next six points for the Ospreys followed by four consecutive free throws by Mackey as UNF siezed the lead for good, 64-62, with just under three minutes to play. The North Florida defense would stiffen down the stretch allowing Elon just three points in the closing minutes to secure the tournament title.

In addition to Moore's game high performance, Nesbitt reached double figures finishing with 12 points and Trent Mackey chipped in a UNF career best 11 points including going 8-10 from the free throw line.

Luke led the Phoenix in scoring with 14 points.

North Florida now returns home to face Edward Waters on Monday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. in UNF Arena.