Final Boxscore (pdf)
Game Book

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After giving up a double-digit lead in the second half, the North Florida basketball team made a furious rally in the closing minutes before dropping a tough 82-80 decision to Tennessee Tech on Monday night at UNF Arena.

The Ospreys (6-4) had a five-game win streak snapped by the Golden Eagles (6-4) when TTU rallied for a 13-point deficit with 18 minutes left in the game. Tennessee Tech shot a smoldering 63 percent from the floor in the second half and made just enough free throws in the final seconds to hold on for the win.

Sophomore forward Chris Davenport posted his first of the season finishing with 14 points and a career best 17 rebounds, matching the fifth highest single game total in program history. Fellow sophomore Dallas Moore added a season best 26 points including scoring the team's final eight points highlighted by back-to-back treys that kept the score within a single possession.

TTU's Dwan Caldwell posted a double-double of his own with 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Golden Eagles effort.

"I was proud of how we battled down the stetch but disappointed in the things we did to surrender the lead," said head coach Matthew Driscoll. "I thought early in the second half we were doing everything right on both ends of the court and then for some reason we just stopped defending. I give Tennessee Tech all the credit for playing with intensity and making the plays needed to get the win. We struggled with some turnovers that led to easy baskets for them and we also missed some open shots that we usually make. Our missed free throws also hurt us in the end. We have to just get back to work and continue to improve because we have a busy week of games."

After falling behind early, the Ospreys scored seven consecutive points to take a 9-6 lead just five minutes into the action. TTU would respond with a 9-2 run to regain the lead and stayed in front for much of the first half. UNF rallied to close the opening period outscoring Tech 13-2 over the final three minutes to carry a 41-32 lead into the halftime break.

North Florida would score six of the first eight points to open the second half and seemed to have momentum on its side but the Golden Eagles slowly chipped away at the Ospreys lead. A 17-4 surge by TTU earned a tie at 51-51 with 13:53 remaining, but UNF edged back ahead and kept the lead for the next several minutes.

Tennessee Tech continued to surge and eventually reclaimed the lead for good, 70-68, with just under seven minutes left on the clock. TTU would widen their lead to seven points (76-69) before the Ospreys made their late charge in the final four minutes. Davenport and Jalen Nesbitt both went to the line with chances to cut the Golden Eagle lead but were unable to convert enough of their opportunities.

Moore looked to be the hero for UNF in the final minute hitting a three-pointer with nine seconds left that cut the lead to two (79-77) and then following a pair of free throws for TTU, he hit a second trey with two seconds left to make the margin one, 81-80.

North Florida now embarks on a six-game road stretch beginning on Wednesday night at Florida State. The Ospreys will also visit Florida A&M (Friday) and Iowa (Dec. 22) in the next week.