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Game Book

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The North Florida basketball team saw their program record seven-game win streak snapped on Saturday night as USC Upstate rode Ty Greene's career best 39 point effort to a 79-74 victory at UNF Arena.

Despite suffering their first Atlantic Sun Conference loss of the year, the Ospreys (14-10, 6-1 ASun) remained on top of the league standings. Greene finished the game making 13 of 19 shots including going 8-for-11 from three-point range in helping the Spartans (16-7, 4-3) win their third straight overall and collect their seventh win in the last eight meetings with UNF.

Beau Beech, who shared this past week's Atlantic Sun Player of the Week honors with Greene, led the way for North Florida finishing with 23 points capped by a perfect 9-9 performance at the free throw line. Trent Mackey scored 12 points and Dallas Moore added 10 points and six assists in the defeat. For Upstate, Fred Miller chipped in 17 points and eight rebounds alongside Greene's night.

The opening 10 minutes of the game featured a back-and-forth pace between the two squads until the Ospreys grabbed the early momentum on the strength of a 7-0 spurt. UNF would continue to lead and build their margin to double-digits late in the half. A three-pointer from Greene in the closing minute cut the Osprey lead to 46-38 at the halftime break.

Moore hit a jumper to start the second half moving the UNF lead to 10 before the Spartans scored eight quick points to pull within two minutes later. Green hit another of his threes in between baskets from Miller in the surge. USC Upstate tied the game for the just the second time at 52 with 14:17 left to play. Over the next several minutes, the lead would seesaw between the squads before the Spartans turned several UNF miscues into a 10-0 run, seizing the lead for good with three minutes remaining.

Trailing by nine, 75-66, Chris Davenport and Beech connected on back-to-back treys followed by a short jumper from Moore as the Ospreys closed the gap to one with 1:11 on the clock. An Upstate turnover gave UNF a chance to take the lead with 30 seconds left, but a pair shots failed to fall as the Spartans converted enough free throws to secure the win.

"I was extremely proud of the fight and effort that our guys played with tonight," said head coach Matthew Driscoll. "We gave ourselves some opportunities to win the game but just weren't able to make the play. We had 12 turnovers in the second half and that really hurt us. You have to give Upstate credit for continuing to get the ball to Ty Greene, who was obviously having a good shooting night. Always tough to lose but we are still leading the league as we head into the second half of the schedule. We just need to keep focused on the things we need to do to be successful."

North Florida will conclude their current three-game home stand against crosstown rival Jacksonville on Friday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. Single game tickets for the River City Rumble battle will go on sale online on Sunday and can be purchased by phone (904-620-BIRD) or in person beginning on Monday.