Final Boxscore (pdf)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Led by the winningest senior duo in program history, the North Florida basketball team posted its second consecutive 20-win regular season performance after rallying in the final minutes for an 81-78 victory over USC Upstate on Saturday night at UNF Arena.

With the victory, UNF improved to 20-10 overall and 9-4 in the Atlantic Sun. The Ospreys sit alone atop the current standings with one game left in the regular season and have secured a share of the regular season title and at least a home game for the upcoming conference tournament quarterfinals.

Fourth-year senior Demarcus Daniels nearly matched a career high finishing with 23 points on 10-for-18 shooting from the floor and fellow four-year senior Beau Beech added 18 points to secure the 73rd victory of their UNF careers. Senior Trent Mackey hit a late three-pointer to aid the Osprey's rally and also hit a pair of free throws in the final minute.

Junior Dallas Moore had 14 points and nine assists and drilled the eventually game winning three-pointer with 30 seconds left to play putting the Ospreys up 80-78. Beech would make a free throw with 10 seconds remaining for the final margin. UNF's defense limited the Spartans (9-21, 3-10) to just seven minutes over the final seven minutes of play.

Upstate junior Michael Buchanan led the way in the loss finishing with a double-double performance of 20 points and 11 rebounds.

"It is a great honor and privilege for me and my family to be a part of the UNF community," said head coach Matthew Driscoll. "Tonight the atmosphere was electric and really provided a lift for our team. The guys again demonstrated their resilience and commitment to each other. It is a tremendous accomplishment to win 20 games in the regular season but we still have some work to do. Have to give some credit to the Upstate team for continuing to battle and make plays, fortunately we were able to make a few more and get some key stops and rebounds down the stretch."

The first half was a back-and-forth affair that featured seven ties and seven lead changes. UNF raced out to the early lead only to see the Spartans battle back and eventually build a six point lead, 38-32, with just over four minutes left in the opening stanza.

The Ospreys would hold Upstate to just two points the remainder of the half while scoring nine points of their own to claim a 41-40 edge at the intermission. Daniels started the run with a jumper followed by a three-pointer from Beech and then back-to-back dunks by Beech and Chris Davenport. 

The second half was more of the same highly contested play consisting of five ties and 10 lead changes. A couple of mini runs midway through the period allowed USC Upstate to build their largest lead of the game, 71-62, with 8:45 left on the clock. 

From that point, UNF turned up the defense and outscored the Spartans, 19-7, the rest of the way to post the season sweep.

North Florida next faces crosstown rival Jacksonville in the River City Rumble rematch on Thursday night at Swisher Gymnasium.