PITTSBURGH - Jarius Hicklen poured in 24 points and gave UNF the lead with 13 seconds to go, but Duquesne's Tevin Brewer sunk a floater with one second on the clock as North Florida men's basketball (1-3) was clipped in a back-and-forth heartbreaker, 83-82, by the Dukes (4-1) Monday, Nov. 21.
The game saw 23 lead changes, 16 tie scores and a lead of no greater than eight for either side. UNF and Duquesne shot the ball well all night, with the Ospreys tallying a 58 percent mark from the field and Duquesne making 46.6 percent of its shots.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
1st Half
- Jadyn Parker got the game started with a dunk only seconds after winning the tip … Hicklen made a contested three-pointer and Chaz Lanier followed with his own as the teams were tied 10-10 at the first media timeout … Jose Placer provided some flash, dishing the ball out and slashing to the hoop as a layup high off the glass tied it, 18-18 … things remained close after the third media timeout, with UNF leading, 25-22 …UNF heated up, with Hicklen and Jonathan Aybar sinking threes to create a game-high eight point lead, forcing Duquesne to a timeout … the helter skelter pace continued through the final media timeout, with UNF leading, 35-33 … Hicklen closed the half with a pair of free throws to give UNF a one-point lead, 43-42 … he finished the opening session with 14 points.
2nd Half
- Efficient offense and good looks continued for both sides in the second half as the teams were knotted at 51-51 entering into the first media timeout of the half … Duquesne's Dae Dae Grant hit a three-pointer to give the Dukes a 55-51 lead, its largest of the game … but, Placer was poised and responded with consecutive three-pointers to put UNF up, 57-55 … Hendricksen drilled a trey from well beyond the arc as the teams were tied, 62-62, going into the second media timeout … Grant continued to produce for Duquesne, helping the Dukes to a 70-64 lead with 8:47 to go, forcing a UNF timeout … Duquesne maintained the lead over the next few possessions, attempting to expand its lead, but just as the Dukes got footing the Ospreys hit a key three-pointer … Lanier nailed a corner pocket three-pointer and Hicklen stepped into one from the wing … Hicklen eventually gave the Ospreys a 75-73 lead with another three … things were all even at 75-75 after the final media timeout … it was a seesaw game from there, with the teams trading buckets … Hendricksen made a pair of three throws to put UNF up, 80-79 … Duquesne's Grant hit a pair of free throws to regain the lead, but not before Hicklen scored a contested layup off an offensive rebound, putting the Ospreys up with 13 seconds … after missing the free throw, Duquesne's Tevin Brewer hit a floater with one second on the clock for the win.
BY THE NUMBERS
UNF
Duquesne
- Dae Dae Grant | 26 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals
- David Dixon | 14 points, 7 rebounds
- Austin Rotroff | 9 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists
NOTABLES
- Placer reached 100 three-pointers for his UNF career
- Hendricksen has reached double-digit scoring in every game this season
- It was UNF's first game against Duquesne
- UNF played its first game against an A-10 team since facing Dayton Dec. 30, 2019
- Hicklen tallied his fifth 20-plus point performance as an Osprey and first this season
- Hendricksen now has 63 double-digit scoring games in his career, while Placer has 36
- Lanier had a season-best seven rebounds
- Placer paced UNF with six assists, while adding five rebounds, both season highs
- The game saw 23 lead changes and 18 tie scores
- Eight points was the largest lead for either team
- UNF shot 58 percent from the floor, its best mark since Dec. 11, 2021 against Austin Peay
- UNF broke double-digit three-pointers for the first time this season
- North Florida is 100-47 under head coach Matthew Driscoll when shooting 40 percent or better from long range
- Hicklen has now scored 977 points in his collegiate career
- It was UNF's first one-point loss since Jan. 8, 2021 at Jacksonville
POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM COACH DRISCOLL
UP NEXT
UNF stays on the road to face No. 15 Kentucky in Lexington Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 4 p.m.
