#MBB Falters vs USC Upstate in Key ASun Contest

Thursday, February 20

Jacksonville, Fla.

7:30 pm

University of North Florida

14-14, 8-7ASUN

USC Upstate

17-12, 10-6ASUN

USC Upstate

North Florida

Photo by: Bill Pearce - wlpearce.com

2/20/2014 11:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Final Boxscore (pdf)
Game Book

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- North Florida had four players in double figures and outscored USC Upstate in the second half, but the Ospreys weren't able to overcome a sluggish opening half in a tough 81-70 loss to the Spartans on Thursday night at UNF Arena.

UNF (14-14, 8-7 ASun) were looking to earn a season split against Upstate (17-12, 10-6) in its next to last regular season home game. However, the Spartans shot 57 percent from the floor in the first half including making five three-pointers en route to building a double-digit lead at halftime.

Senior Charles McRoy led the quartet of double figure scorers for North Florida finishing with 15 points, while fellow senior Travis Wallace had 13 followed by 12 from Jalen Nesbitt and 10 for Beau Beech.

USC Upstate got a double-double performance from Ricardo Glenn with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Torrey Craig, the league's leading scorer, chipped in 16 points for the Spartans while Jodd Maxey (16) and Fred Miller (14) also reached double digits in the game.

"It felt like Upstate played with more vigor and energy tonight and I'm not sure why that happened," said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. "I thought we again continued to compete and battle. Unfortunately, every time we made a charge or pulled close it seemed like they were able to get key baskets or make a decisive play. Every game is important and pivotal so we need to get refocused and play with a renewed sense of urgency."

After the Ospreys earned their first and only lead of the game, 5-4, with 17:31 left in the first half, USC Upstate answered with a 10-0 surge to open up a nine-point advantage. Over the remainder of the half, the Spartans slowly widened their lead to as large as 16 points, 44-28, with 1:30 remaining in the period.

UNF would score the final four points of the stanza to trail by 12, 44-32, at the halftime break.

The Spartans maintained a double figure lead through the early minutes of the second half, before UNF began chipping away at the deficit. The Ospreys would pull within seven points on several occasions including the last time, 73-66, with 1:29 left to play. That would be as close as UNF would get as Upstate converted seven free throws in the closing minute to secure the victory.

North Florida closes its regular season home schedule Saturday against ETSU at 7 p.m. The Bucs, who lost at Jacksonville tonight, hold a half game lead over the Ospreys for the fourth and final hosting spot for the upcoming conference tournament. UNF's senior class of Charles McRoy and Travis Wallace will be honored during a pregame ceremony.