OPENING TIP
Score: Grand Canyon 65 | North Florida 51
Records: North Florida (0-3) | Grand Canyon (2-0)
Location: GCU Arena (Phoenix, Ariz.)
The Short Story: A scrappy North Florida men's basketball squad playing its third game in the last four days battled from the opening tip in a hard fought 65-51 road loss at Grand Canyon on Friday night.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Junior
Carter Hendricksen finished with a season best 18 points including four three-pointers to lead the Osprey offense
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Dorian James nearly had a double-double, chipping in 10 points and a team-best 7 rebounds on the night
- A trio of Grand Canyon players reached double digits paced by 12 for Jovan Blacksher, Jr. | Yvan Quedraogo added a double-double (11 pts/10 rebs) for GCU
- North Florida committed a season low 13 turnovers while forcing the Lopes into 16 miscues including three shot clock violations
NOTABLE MOMENTS
- North Florida had the fast start, scoring the first five points and holding a lead over Grand Canyon for the opening six minutes of play
- The Lopes used an 11-0 run midway through the first period to gain an advantage but the Ospreys battled back to keep things close
- GCU posted a 15-4 spurt late in the half to build a 36-24 halftime lead
- UNF continued to battle after intermission and after trading baskets for several possessions the Ospreys trimmed their deficit to six (45-39) on a three-pointer from
Chaz Lanier with about 12 minutes remaining
- Grand Canyon would score 10 of the next 14 points to extend their lead and hold on for the win
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Game was the first meeting on the hardwood between the Ospreys and Lopes
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Carter Hendricksen has now reached double figures and led UNF in scoring for every game this season
- After making just a pair of three-pointers in the first half, North Florida heated up and hit five treys in the second half
- GCU held a 37-20 advantage in rebounding
- Sophomore newcomer
Jordan Preaster made his career debut for the Ospreys in the contest
-
Chaz Lanier went 2-for-2 from beyond the arc for UNF
NEXT UP
North Florida continues its season-opening road trip with another game in the Phoenix area as the Ospreys visit Arizona State on Monday night.
