DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Thanks to a career-best 23 points from
Oscar Berry, clutch free throws down the stretch and four total Ospreys with double-digit points, North Florida men's basketball fought off Bethune-Cookman, 87-85, in Daytona Beach Thursday, Dec. 22.
Jarius Hicklen scored 10 of his 15 points from the line and
Jadyn Parker secured things down low with 12 rebounds and nine points. Berry hit six three-pointers as
Carter Hendricksen and
Jose Placer also joined with double-digit scoring afternoons.
UNF (5-7) earned its first road win since the regular season finale at Stetson last year, as well as its first non-conference road win since defeating Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Miss., Dec. 14, 2019.
FINAL SCORE
- NORTH FLORIDA | 87
- BETHUNE-COOKMAN | 85
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
1st Half
- Both teams traded buckets early, with Berry scoring a quick five points as the Ospreys had a 11-9 lead at the first media timeout … UNF used a 9-0 run to break open a 20-11 lead at just under 13 minutes … the Ospreys found their shot from the outside, making three of four three-pointers to take a 31-21 lead at the under eight … BCU (4-8) went on a 10-0 run to get within one point with 4:41 to go … Parker made a free throw and got a lay-in to stop the Wildcats' run and keep UNF ahead by four at the final media timeout of the half … Hendricksen hit a big three-pointer from the wing to widen UNF's lead back to four at the 1:30 mark … a fast-paced half concluded with the Ospreys in front by one at 41-40 … Berry paced UNF with eight as Marcus Garrett had 14 … Parker finished the first frame with seven points and eight boards.
2nd Half
- BCU made a bucket in its first trip down the floor, but Jose Placer responded with a lay-up to retake the lead … Parker was key at the start of the second half, getting important rebounds … Berry kept UNF going with two threes, one which tied things at 49 … Berry stripped BCU's guard at the top of the key and completed the and-one for a 52-49 UNF lead … the margin remained within one possession at 60-58 with 11:25 to go … Berry upped his total to 20 with another three to give UNF a five-point lead … BCU went on a 5-0 run, but Chaz Lanier hit a big three-pointer to give UNF a 68-65 lead … Parker stayed perfect from the floor to give UNF a 70-66 advantage at the third media timeout … North Florida got multiple stops and widened its lead to eight with a pair of free throws and a Hendricksen bucket … Hendricksen scored again and Berry drained a huge three-pointer from the corner … UNF entered the last media timeout up 79-75 … BCU's Zion Harmon hit a floater to get the Wildcats within two at 81-79 in favor of the Ospreys … UNF handled late-game fouls well, making free throws to close out the game by two points.
BY THE NUMBERS
NORTH FLORIDA
BETHUNE-COOKMAN
- Marcus Garrett | 27 points, 8-10 FTs
- Zion Harmon | 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
NOTABLES
- North Florida is 6-0 all-time against Bethune-Cookman
- UNF picked up its first road win since defeating Stetson in DeLand February of 2022
- Placer is only nine points shy of reaching 1,000 for his collegiate career
- UNF has won consecutive games for the first time this season
- Berry broke the 20-point mark for the first time in his career
- Parker set a career high for rebounds with 12
- North Florida had the lead for over 32 minutes
- Hendricksen reached 68-career double-digit scoring games, while Placer notched his 40th
- UNF broke the double-digit three-pointers made mark for the sixth time this year
- North Florida eclipsed 20 free throws made for the second time this season
- UNF outscored Bethune-Cookman, 36-23, in fast break points
POSTGAME COMMENTS
UP NEXT
UNF plays in its non-conference finale Thursday, Dec. 29 against Atlantis.
