Photo Credit: Erik Schelkun, Elsestar Images

OPENING TIP
Score: #20/18 Dayton 77, North Florida 59
Records: North Florida (7-8) | Dayton (11-2)
Location: Dayton Arena (Dayton, Ohio)
The Short Story: Facing their third ranked opponent of the season in their final non-conference contest, North Florida men's basketball dropped a tough 77-59 decision at No. 20/18 ranked Dayton on Monday night in front of a crowd of 13,407.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
Final Boxscore

STAT LEADERS
- Carter Hendricksen led the Ospreys in scoring (12 pts) and rebounding (7 rebs) in just 24 minutes of play due to foul trouble
- Wajid Aminu and Ivan Gandia-Rosa each chipped in 10 points for UNF
- Dayton had three players in double digits paced by 31 points and 8 rebs from All-American candidate Obi Toppin
- North Florida connected on 12 three-pointers while limiting the Flyers to just four treys
- UNF was hindered by 21 turnovers leading to 21 points for UD
- Flyers held a slim 36-32 rebounding edge 

NOTABLE MOMENTS
- Dayton opened the game with an 8-3 run
- Ospreys responded with the next nine points including a three-pointer from Wajid Aminu, two driving layups from Ivan Gandia-Rosa and a basket for JT Escobar | Run allowed UNF to earn their only lead of the night
- The Flyers answered with a 12-0 spurt over the next three minutes assisted by several turnovers by UNF
- The teams settled into a back-and-forth trading of baskets until UD closed the half on a 14-6 surge, building a 42-28 halftime advantage
- Garrett Sams and Aminu connected on quick scores to start the second half, trimming the Dayton lead
- Unfortunately, Dayton turned several miscuses by the Ospreys into six points in less than a minute to push the lead back close to 20
- Despite North Florida connecting on six three-pointers in the second half, the Flyers were able to maintain the double figure margin
- The Ospreys were unable to get any closer than the final deficit 

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- North Florida upped its nation-leading 3PM total to 191 for the season, tallying double digit treys for the 13th time in 15 games
- Facing a Top 25 ranked foe for the 27th time, UNF remained winless against ranked teams
- UNF's seven non-conference victories marks the most for the program since 11 in 2015-16
- 10 of 11 Ospreys got into the scoring column tonight
- Josh Endicott connected on his first career three-pointer and became the 11th different Osprey with a career 3PM (10th this season)
- 59 points matches the lowest offensive output for the Ospreys this season

LAST WORD
"It makes things hard when you self implode and give up easy baskets like we did tonight. We were unable to recover from the 12-0 and 10-2 runs we gave them in the first half. Give Dayton credit for not allowing us to get close once they built a lead. They were able to pressure us into doing things out of character for us instead of just doing the fundamental things. Our non-conference is over and it is what it is. We have to wash it out and move forward into ASUN play, which is the most critical part of what we are trying to do. Our guys will be prepared and ready for Kennesaw on Thursday, that I can promise." -- Head coach Matthew Driscoll

NEXT UP
North Florida continues its seven-game road trek with a pair of ASUN contests at Kennesaw (Jan. 2) and North Alabama (Jan. 4)