OPENING TIP
Score: North Florida 71, Liberty 70
Records: North Florida (12-9, 5-1 ASUN) | Liberty (19-2, 5-1 ASUN)
Location: UNF Arena (Jacksonville, Fla.)
The Short Story: North Florida handed ASUN leading Liberty its first conference loss of the season, 71-70, Thursday night in a boisterous UNF Arena. 

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
Final Boxscore

BY THE NUMBERS
- Ivan Gandia-Rosa finished with a game high 19 points (14 in the first half) and handed out three assists in leading the Osprey offense
- Carter Hendricksen added 16 points and a team high 7 rebounds
- Garrett Sams chipped in 12 including the game winning free throw with 1.5 seconds remaining
- Wajid Aminu (11) and JT Escobar (10) also netted double figures
- Darius McGhee led a quartet of Liberty players in double digits, scoring 19 points
- North Florida made 10 three-pointers and posted a 32-27 advantage in rebounding

NOTABLE MOMENTS
- North Florida set the tone early connecting on back-to-back treys to open the game and grab a 6-2 lead
- The Ospreys would lead for much of the first half, building as large as a 5-point advantage several times
- UNF missed seven of its last nine shots to close the half but a fastbreak layup by Carter Hendricksen with 24 seconds put the Ospreys up
- Caleb Homesley missed a pair of free throws with less than a second remaining in the first half allowing UNF to hold a slim 32-31 halftime lead
- Despite just four three-pointers in the first half, UNF's 19-11 rebounding edge allowed them to keep in front
- The first five minutes of the second half featured 13 lead changes and a pair of ties as neither team would lead by more than a single point
- With the score tied 50-50 at the 13 minute mark, Hendricksen and JT Escobar converted baskets that gave UNF a lead they would hold for nearly the rest of the game
- Hendricksen and Garrett Sams connected on consecutive three-pointers as part of an 8-0 that extended the Osprey lead to nine, 67-58 | The UNF defense held the Flames without a point for over 5:30
- Sams nailed the squad's 10th trey of the night at 3:09 to give UNF a 10-point cushion (70-60)
- Liberty would battle back answering with 10 straight points to even the score on a pair of free throws by Elijah Cuffee with 17 seconds left
- North Florida would secure the win as Sams converted one of two free throws with 1.5 showing on the clock and LU's buzzer beating heave sailed harmlessly over the backboard
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- North Florida upped its nation-leading 3PM total to 250 for the season and posted its 16th contest with 10+ 3PM
- Head Coach Matthew Driscoll earned the 175th win of his UNF career
- Ospreys kept Liberty winless at UNF Arena, the only ASUN venue the Flames have not earned a victory
- UNF's 71 points was 20 points above Liberty's season average for points allowed and marked the second highest point total surrendered by the Flames this season
- North Florida has now handed Liberty their last two regular season losses in conference play
- Game featured 18 lead changes and six ties | North Florida held the lead for 36:08 while Liberty was ahead just 2:27
- Liberty entered the game ranked No. 2 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major National Poll


LAST WORD
"If you're a college basketball fan, you saw about as good a basketball game as you could possibly witness from every aspect. Two very, very good teams. Two of the best mid-major teams in the country. Both sides went back-and-forth and competed at a high level. When your goal is to win championships, you have to understand it takes that effort and more importantly belief. Our guys had that tonight. We were able to get consecutive stops in the second half and build a 10-point lead. Down the stretch, we did some really nice things and made some great plays, but unfortunately we just didn't make shots. If we had been able to convert one of our open three-pointers late in the game than the game wouldn't have gotten to where it got. Our guys did a great job of executing the game plan and getting good shots. I really proud of the seniors because they understand games like this our critical later in the season and you have to take care of your home court." -- Head coach Matthew Driscoll

NEXT UP
The Ospreys make a quick turnaround with a road clash at Lipscomb, Saturday in Nashville at 5 p.m. (ET)