University of North Florida
-1313, 76 ASun
Florida Gulf Coast
-169, 102 ASun
Sluggish Second Half Hurts #MBB in Loss at FGCU
2/8/2014 9:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Final Boxscore (pdf)
Game Book
FT. MYERS, Fla. -- The North Florida basketball team scored a season low 46 points in a tough 73-46 conference road loss at Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday night in Alico Arena.
The Ospreys (13-13, 7-6 ASun) struggled to find an offensive flow throughout the contest as UNF shot just 34 percent from the floor and committed 22 turnovers. FGCU (16-9, 10-2) finished at 54 percent shooting from the floor including a 60.9 percent performance in the second half.
Demarcus Daniels and Chris Davenport each scored 11 points to pace the Osprey offense, while Beau Beech chipped in 10. UNF's two leading scorers both were scoreless on the evening as Dallas Moore went 0-5 from the floor and Travis Wallace left with an injury after playing just two minutes.
FGCU's starters scored 60 of the team's 73 points led by 17 points from both Bernard Thompson and Chase Fieler. Brent Comer added 10 points and nine assists for the Eagles.
"Give credit to FGCU for really dominating play especially in the second half," said UNF head coach Matthew Driscoll. "I felt like we battled and weathered their opening surge of the game and even got back into the game. However, for some reason we just didn't respond in the second half when they raised the level of play. We just have to take a good look at ourselves and see how we can keep working to get better."
Florida Gulf Coast raced out to an early advantage scoring the first six points en route to a 13-4 opening run. North Florida cut into the deficit before a 12-1 surge capped by three consecutive three-pointers pushed the Eagles in front, 27-10, with 10:26 left in the half.
The Ospreys would answer with a 17-7 spurt of their own over the next eight minutes of action to pull within seven, 34-27, at the 2:50 mark. UNF closed the rallying run scoring 10 consecutive points including baskets from four different players. FGCU would score the final four points of the period to hold a 38-27 lead at the half.
The Eagles soared out of the break scoring the first 13 points of the second half to seize control of the momentum. FGCU outscored the Ospreys, 29-4, in building a 30-point advantage. UNF's reserves would finish the game with a 10-0 run holding the Eagles off the scoreboard for the final 4:50 of the game.
North Florida concludes its current road swing with the SunTrust River City Rumble rematch against crosstown rival Jacksonville on Friday, Feb. 14, at Veterans Memorial Arena.
