JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - For the third time in five ASUN games the final outcome was decided by three points or less, as the visiting Owls held off the Ospreys' late push in UNF's 62-60 loss to Kennesaw State from the UNF Arena.
The Owls (8-8, 3-0 ASUN) scored the eventual game winner with 32 seconds on the clock before evading UNF's attempt to even things up at the line or win the game with a last-second heave.
Monday night's game was extremely physical, with the two teams combining for 43 personal fouls. The game saw some stellar defense, with both teams swatting seven shots and combining for 24 steals.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
1st Half
UNF (4-14, 0-5 ASUN) went into the half up in front, 34-28, getting a buzzer beater from
Jarius Hicklen to send the Ospreys into the break on a high note … UNF held KSU to 29.4 shooting in the opening session, while shooting 40 percent and 35.3 from beyond the arc … Hicklen posted a game-high nine points through the first 20 minutes of the game, helping give the Ospreys a lead for 12 minutes and 25 seconds of the first half.
2nd Half
- KSU answered with a quick 5-0 run out of the half, getting within one and setting the tone for a second half that was within a possession for the better part of the frame … KSU got hot midway through the quarter, creating some separation.
Late game breakdown:
- Down 55-47 with 7:25 to go in the second half, the Ospreys went on a 7-0 run to get within one and rekindle life ... KSU pushed back to go up five, but Jonathan Aybar hit a pair of free throws and Jarius Hicklen evened up the game with a three-pointer at the 2:03 mark … The Owls' Chris Youngblood scored a driving layup with 32 seconds to go before calling a timeout ... Chaz Lanier had a jumper from 15 rattle off the rim before KSU came down with a defensive rebound ... the Owls Isaiah Reddish missed a pair of free throws to keep UNF within two … Jonathan Aybar was fouled, putting him at the line with a chance to tie the game, 61-61 ... Aybar made the back half of his two shots to allow KSU to stay ahead, 61-60 ... Spencer Rodgers was fouled, hit the first free throw and intentionally missed the second with 1.1 on the clock ... Jarius Hicklen grabbed the defensive rebound and launched a last second shot that rimmed out.
BY THE NUMBERS
KSU
- Chris Youngblood | 16 points
- Terrell Burden | 4 assists, 5 steals
- Demond Robinson | 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks
UNF
NOTEABLES
- Three of UNF's five ASUN games have been decided by three points or less.
- The winning bucket in three of UNF's ASUN games has been made with one-minute and ten seconds or less on the clock.
- Neither team had a double-digit lead.
- KSU outscored UNF 28-12 in the paint despite the Ospreys outrebounding KSU, 51-41.
- North Florida had 23 offensive rebounds, the same number as KSU's total for defensive rebounds.
- Jarius Hicklen notched his eighth double-digit scoring performance and a season-high 17 points.
- Aybar tallied a career-best 11 boards.
COACH DRISCOLL'S COMMENTS
NEXT UP
UNF breaks from ASUN play for a matinee game at Florida State Thursday, Jan. 20. Tip-off is at noon.
